i haven't updated in forever. i know. i sorry. :/

to be honest, this story lost momentum for me for awhile. but i know where its going now, which means more updates(:

i got two other stories im working on I'LL BE YOUR BEST KEPT SECRET AND YOUR BIGGEST MISTAKE and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.

please go check em out?:):)

Chapter Six

the calm before the storm

--

"Uhm," Kristen frowned, staring at the envelope. "It's blank."

She waved the envelope labeled 'Homecoming Queen Results' at Principal Burns, her eyes asking what she should do.

Clearly, Kemp sensed her distress and came to her rescue. "Yes, Kristen, the envelope is blank," he smiled reassuringly as he faced BOCHS's student body. "We're gunna announce your 2009 Homecoming Queen tonight, so you guys better go to the game."

"See you guys there," Kristen plastered a fake smile on her face, then glared at Kemp.

--

By the time Massie reached the top of the bleachers at the Tomahawks' stadium, she was panting. She might have been sweating, too, if it wasn't fifty degrees and seven thirty at night.

Despite the bitter cold, Massie was pretty warm. She was wearing her favorite Paige denim jeans, and Evan's old blue and black Vans jacket. It was a cute look that was just as comfortable as it was functional. Its function: walking up the bleachers.

Massie had a growing suspicion that Claire had texted her the wrong time to show up, which might explain why she'd arrived almost an hour and a half into the game. At nearly four minutes left, the Tomahawks and the Wolverines were tied 1-1.

She took a deep breath before joining Kristen, Kemp, Dylan, and Plovert. Clearly, luck was on her side, because Claire and Alicia were down on the field, cheering on Cam, Derrick, and Josh. Claire still hadn't acknowledged their previous run-in with her and Derrick yesterday, because they WERE still going out, and the thought that Claire hadn't tried to publicly humiliate her yet was making Massie's insides suddenly become uneasy. She temporarily pushed this towards the back of her mind, however, and made her way towards the group.

"Kemp!"

Kemp's curly mop turned towards her. "Massie," he grinned, hi-fiving her. "We didn't think you were gunna show up."

"Claire said you probably had better things to do," Plovert explained. "But then I thought, hey, she doesn't know anyone besides us, so whatever."

Massie shook her head, smiling slightly. "No, Claire told me to show up an hour later than you guys all got here."

Kristen and Dylan exchanged a look.

"We don't think she likes you," Dylan frowned.

"Yeah, especially because you hooked up with Derrick yesterday and you're pretty much just a huge threat--"

"Interesting," Massie seemed amused. She really wasn't a threat, in her opinion; she could care less about being popular. She did, however, want a good group of friends that she could turn to. But with Claire, it seemed that her bitchiness pretty much ruined that fantasy.

"Oh shit, we gotta go," Kemp grabbed Kristen and started dragging her down the bleachers.

"Where?" Dylan called after them.

"Announcing the winners," Kemp shouted back at them, as he scrambled down the steps.

Massie shrugged. Moments later, Kristen and Kemp marched onto the side of the field, accompanied by BOCHS' marching band, the colour guard, and the cheerleaders. She glanced at the clock, noticing that there were two minutes to go. The black and white-clad referee blew his whistle.

"And it looks like BOCHS has called a time out," Kori Gedman's voice flooded the stadium. She was taking over Alicia's job while she cheered, Massie reasoned. As if on cue, the band started to play. The trumpets and trombones weaved an energizing tune through the air while the two teams gathered on separate sides of the field.

"I hate time outs," Plovert muttered.

Dylan rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a Debbie-Downer."

The referee's whistle blew again, and the teams resumed their positions on the field. It was a corner kick against the Tomahawks, and Derrick had his team marking every Wolverine player on the offensive side.

Massie noticed Danny Robbins of Abner DoubleDay Day taking the kick, and she watched as his foot made contact with the ball, sending it in a perfect form as it bent in towards the net.

In slow motion, Griffin Hastings jumped up towards the ball, as if going for a header. The ball hit him square in the forehead as he sent it towards the upper left corner of the net.

The entire Tomahawk side took a collective deep breath.

And then there was Derrick Harrington, the star goalie, leaping towards the ball and saving it from entering the net. He crashed to the ground, still cradling the ball in his arms. But he was up again, seemingly immune to the crowd's cheering, as he punted the ball towards Cam Fischer, who was making a run down the left side of the field.

Cam collected the ball, and then he sent himself on a wild journey to the Warriors' goal, his feet moving lightning fast.

"Come on, Cammie boy!" Plovert shouted. He was standing up, biting his nails.

Massie joined in. "Go Cam!" She watched Cam wind up, ready cross the ball. She saw Josh Hotz at the other side of the goal, clearly anticipating the cross.

Sure enough, Cam sent it right outside the right post, past their last defender, where Josh chest-trapped the ball and chipped it towards the goal.

The Warrior's goalie dived after the ball, to the ground.

He missed.

"Goaaaaaal!" Kori Gedman's voice sounded throughout the stadium as the referee's blew their whistles three times. "That's the game, folks!"

The band resumed their cheery tune, and Massie, Josh and Dylan excitedly jumped up and down. Cue the cheerleaders, whose too-perky movements and sparkly pom-poms were too much for Massie to handle. Keep in mind she used to be one, but the Indiana cheerleaders and the Westchester cheerleaders had two completely different associations, the main difference of that was Claire Lyons.

In fact, Massie could see the platinum blonde from her spot at the top of the stands. And she couldn't help but wonder what exactly she had in store for her. After all, she did catch Massie with Derrick at Pines Park. Claire hadn't mentioned or even acknowledged that fact either. And as much as Massie hated to admit it, the anticipation was killing her.

It was like Massie was waiting in the calm before the storm. Claire was probably plotting her grand scheme to publicly embarrass Massie, or at least try to, and making sure it went perfectly was her top priority until the plan was executed.

"Alright, BOCHS," Kristen was standing with Kemp in the center of the field, clad in a bright blue BOCHS spirit shirt and clutching the microphone. "Who's ready to meet their 2009 Homecoming Queen?"

The BOCHS side of the stands cheered in response.

Kristen smiled and nodded towards Kemp, who took the microphone and waved a gold envelope in the air.

He cleared his throat. "Briarwood-Octavian Country High School," he said, pausing. "Your Homecoming Queen is..."

"Dammit Kemp, just announce my name already," Claire hissed at him from her spot on the players' bench on the sidelines.

"Massie Block!"

"What?!" Claire shrieked.

Massie's stomach dropped. Immediately her eyes fell to Claire, who was visibly fuming, even from thirty yards away.

"Congrats, Mass," Plovert hugged her. Dylan smiled and voiced her approval as well.

"Thanks," Massie replied faintly. But her eyes were still glued to Claire and the way she was reacting. And when Claire's head slowly turned around to make direct eye contact with Massie, a shiver went down Massie's spine. Because only an idiot would have missed Claire's words, even if Claire barely whispered them and even if her figure was especially far away.

You're dead.

--

Massie had made her way down the bleachers to the entrance of the Tomahawks' Stadium. Somehow she had strayed from Plovert and Dylan. And meeting up with Claire and Alicia wasn't too high on her list of priorities. But she could see Danny and Griffin in a heated discussion with Derrick, which was good because she wanted to meet up with them later anyways.

Wait.

Derrick Harrington? Massie frowned.

Why would they be talking to each other?

"Massie," Danny smiled warmly when he spotted her walking towards him and Griffin. Griffin's expression brightened, while Derrick's turned to a look of confusion.

"Massie?" Derrick's brows furrowed. "You know these guys?"

"Yeah," Massie replied coolly, then sending a coy smile to Danny. "We've met a couple times."

"Have you?" Derrick murmured, glaring at Griffin. Griffin shrugged, smirking.

"Come on, Massie," Derrick spat. His expression hardened when he spoke. "Let's go." He reached towards her arm, pulling her away from Danny and Griffin.

"Um, no," Massie glared and yanked her arm away from his grasp. She wasn't going to do the chick-on-the-side thing with him. If he wanted to hang out with her, he could break up with Claire, which is what he wanted to do, right? Massie refused to be Derrick Harrington's friend with benefits. "I'm not going anywhere with you. You have a girlfriend, re-mem-ber?"

Danny snickered. "Looks like you can't win 'em all, Harrington." He hi-fived Griffin and started walking away, towards the exit of the field, with Griffin following. "You coming or not, Block?"

Massie glanced at Danny, then Griffin, and then back to Derrick. She saw Claire plowing through people, probably getting ready to bitch at Massie, in the distance. She took one last look at Derrick, who had a pleading look in his eyes, begging her to stay with him. She smirked. "Wait for me, guys."

And then she walked away, leaving a confused Derrick, a pissy Claire, and a near-empty football field in her dust.

suckish chapter, but the next one will be kinda amazing. itll make up fer it i sweare(:

review?

-LOGEN