Edited 2019

Disclaimer: Not mine, I get nothing from this except the enjoyment of writing.

Chapter 16

Apparently, John is not as good with cats as he thought. He woke everyone up screaming cause Tina was licking his face. I about died with laughter when he explained. I wish I had been downstairs when it happened cause I would have taken a picture of it. It could have been on his campaign poster for homecoming. I guess the one of him with his mouth stuffed with cookies would have to do. I could do a whole series of posters like that what with the one of Jason from this summer. I bet I could find a just fabulous picture for all of the guys.

I was roused from my thinking by a hand coming to rest on my stomach and pulling me back into a rather firm chest. Another hand wrapped around my middle. A chin came to rest on top of my head. Almost as if he had read my mind Eric said, "I wish we had a camera when he first screamed the picture would have been spectacular."

I turned around in his arms to face him. "I was thinking that if I took the picture you took of him stuffing his face and the one of Jason sleeping while weeding I could turn them into posters for homecoming. What do you think?"

"That could help me win homecoming king but only if you do the posters for the other guys and not me." He said with an evil smirk.

"I don't know I was thinking about doing one for each of you so that everyone could get to know what I love about all of you," I said returning his smirk. His face paled. Just as he was going to voice something Gran poked her head out of the kitchen.

"Well don't you two look cozy? Not to interrupt but breakfast is on the table and it will be better while it is still hot." She said before returning to the kitchen. Gran had made ham steak with red-eye gravy, a mass of scrambled eggs and grits. One of these mornings I am just going to have to tell her that I want cereal instead. Granted if I tell her that I would probably get oatmeal. John and Jason were already at the table when we entered. Now I knew why Gran said something it is not that the food would be could it just would not be there with the way those were shoveling food into their mouths so fast I was sure that they could not taste it. I sat down and filled my plate to eat. Gran handed me a glass of milk. I looked out the window and it was raining.

"Jason, I had a thought, how are we all going to fit in your truck? I know that I don't want to sit in the bed with all that rain." I pointed to the window.

"I think you'll have to sit on someone's lap then, cause I'm not driving Gran's car." He came back. When the words came out of his mouth I thought John and Eric would choke on their food.

"I don't know how comfortable the boys will be with that. You tend to hit a lot of bumps." I retorted with a wicked smile.

"Eww Sook, not at the table I don't want to think about that especially not either of them with you." He whined.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," I said innocently. "Could you pass the salt, John?" He handed me the salt blushing. Breakfast went by quietly after that. I went and grabbed my bag I was kind of glad that I had left my cello at the school overnight. I had no idea how it would have fit into the cab with the four of us. There was a small fight over who would sit in the middle since Jason needed to see out. John won because he is just too tall to sit in the middle with Eric, Jason could see out the back if a little bit obscured. I ended up on John's lap much to Eric's dismay. I had pointed out that if I sat on his then there was no point of him sitting in the middle to let Jason see out. He begrudgingly agreed. John did end up in a similar predicament as Eric had on Tuesday. It really was not my fault though if Jason would have been more careful in avoiding the bumps then we would not be in this situation. I did not want to say anything cause I could tell just how embarrassed he was by it. When we got to school and Jason parked he and Eric hopped out right away. John held me on his lap for a minute.

"I don't want to get out just yet. I am sure that you can feel why. Please just give me a minute Babe." He asked squeaking. I slid off his lap to where Eric had been sitting.

"We can talk about something until you are ready to leave John. Is there anyone you are planning to ask to the homecoming dance?" I changed the subject.

"I really had not thought about it." He paused stuttering a little. "I…I mean, there is someone I would like to ask but I don't think she sees me that way. I would be embraced if she said no." He said looking down at his hands.

"Well, you won't know till you ask her," I said encouragingly.

"I will think about it. So are you going with anyone yet?" He asked

"Nope, no one has asked me yet. Gran said that she would take me dress shopping when someone did." I answered. Right when he was going to say something Jason pounded on the door and reminded us that we were going to be late if we did not get a move on. "I will see you at lunch, John, we can finish this conversation then." I got out of the cab and ran to the door so I would not get soaked. I got to homeroom just as Mr. Brigant was closing the door.

"Nice of you to join us Sookie I was just about to start the announcements." He said ushering me to my seat. The morning went by fairly quick and I was walking with Amelia to lunch.

"Have you given any thought to who you want as your co-captain for dance team?" She asked hopefully.

"Yeah, I have. Lala wants me to pick a guy so that we different views. I was thinking about asking Barry or my cousin Claude. Barry is pretty good he also seemed nice, but I think that Claude is more skilled. My only issue with asking Claude is that I don't want people to think that it is nepotism." I answered honestly. We got our trays and went to sit down at the table. I noticed that John was missing which I found odd. "Jason where is John I thought he would have beat us here?"

"He said he had to do something but he will be here. I was wondering if you could get a ride home with Tara?" He asked.

"Are you going to go talk to Crystal's father? Good luck with that." I said getting up to go find Tara. She was sitting with Lafayette and some of the other dancers. "Tara, could I get a ride home with you later? Jason has to do something after practice."

"Sure have you giving any thought to what Lala and I said yesterday?" She queried.

"I have some idea, but I want to wait till later to finally decide," I answered.

"Alright, you can be all secretive. Did you know that Jason is up for homecoming king?" She asked then took a bite of her apple.

"Yeah, he said something about it, last night. He said several of the guys have been nominated," I replied.

"Are you going to go dress shopping soon? You don't want to wait till the last minute and end up an ugly dress." Tara took another bite of her apple.

"Gran said that she would take me when I got asked. I am sure she would love to have you come with." I responded.

"That would be fun Laffy would have to come to you know how he is." She smiled.

"I will see you later." I waved as I left the table. I walked back over to where Jason was sitting. "I have a ride now you have to go see her dad," I said sitting down.

"Who dad does he have to talk to?" Amelia interjected.

"He has to go talk to the Reverend. Gran caught Crystal sneaking out of the house the other morning. It was hilarious Gran and Eric saw her walking down the drive." I laughed.

"Why was Eric there in the morning huh?" Amelia elbowed me.

"He is staying with us until his dad gets back," I answered simply. We finished eating lunch and went to chemistry.

AN: I know that this one is shorter I am just having a hard time writing tonight. More will come tomorrow. As always thanks for reading.