She Drives Me Crazy(22)
“It’s true, and you know it. What would you have to lose?” I hold out my hands like I’m offering her the world on a gold platter. “You already won Homecoming Queen. Your cheer routines are amazing, minus the little mishap last night, which I’m guessing only happened because you were distracted with worrying about having to quit cheerleading. And now you can push boundaries by not only being the first cheerleader to win SAOY, but by openly ‘dating’ a girl in the months leading up to it.”
“Do you think I’m not pushing boundaries already?” she asks sharply. “How many desi cheerleaders do you know?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Just you, I’m pretty sure. So why not go big or go home?”
She purses her lips. “For how long?”
“Until we play Candlehawk in the district championship in February.”
“Four months?”
“It’s not as long as it sounds,” I insist. “Look, if you can get your squad to cheer for us, it’ll have a huge effect on our playing. We’ll beat Candlehawk in the Christmas Classic, and then we’ll ride that high straight into the championship, by which time you will surely have snagged a nomination for SAOY.”
She shakes her head stubbornly. I have no choice but to pull out the big guns.
“Or…,” I say innocently, “you could quit cheerleading for four months while you work off your debts to your parents. Not sure that would help you win SAOY, though, which means you’d have no shot at going to Benson.”
I feel shitty about leveraging her dream, but I need her to say yes. My heart is almost beating out of my chest at this point.
Irene runs her finger along her mouth, thinking. “Will you give me the money up front?”
“Yes.”
“And you won’t tell anyone we’re doing this?”
“Not if you don’t.”
She smooths her bottom lip again. It’s actually very distracting. “I can’t believe I’m considering this.”
“Neither can I,” I admit. “But I also can’t believe you’ve converted me into a secret cheerleading fan who will probably vote for you for SAOY. I guess this is just an unprecedented week.”
She looks at me, her eyes twinkling the tiniest bit. “Fine,” she says, extending her hand for me to shake.
I grip her warm, soft palm and squeeze. A rush of excitement shoots up through my arm. This is the first thing to go right in a long, long time.
“How do we start?” Irene asks.
“You got your car back from the shop, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” I smirk. “First step: You drive us to school on Monday.”
7
Irene picks me up at 7:22 on Monday morning. I know the exact minute because she calls three times in a row while I’m blow-drying my hair.
“I’m coming!” I bark into the phone.
She clucks her tongue and hangs up without a word.
When I step into the driveway, there’s an unforeseen complication. Thora is standing beneath the carport, keys in hand, glowering at Irene’s car.
“Uh … good morning,” I say to Thora.
“Is it?” Her eyes narrow. “Mom told me I need to give you a ride because your car’s still at Sledd Brothers, but it looks like Regina George got the same memo.”
Irene stares between us through the windshield of her car. She looks impatient.
“I thought I’d told Mom I had a ride.” I swing my backpack over my shoulder, trying to look like I’m in a hurry. “Sorry about that, but don’t worry, I’m all set!”
I step away toward Irene’s car, but Thora grabs me by the arm.
“Do you wanna explain why your nemesis is giving you a ride?”
“Um, it’s kind of complicated, I’ll tell you tonight—”
She holds my arm tighter and waits.
I’m not sure how to explain this to her. I knew I’d have to convince my family more than anyone that Irene and I are dating, but I thought I’d have a few more days to prepare for it. And Thora is the last person I want to start with. She’s way too shrewd for this shit.
“There’s been an … unexpected love development.”
Thora snorts. “With her? She hit your car last week. And you said she bullied you last year.”
I shrug. “Forgive and forget, right? People change.”
“Scots. Have you lost your mind? This bitch is gonna mess you up just like Tally did.”
The car door swings open. Irene steps out, whipping her sunglasses off with a move that suggests she’s ready for a death match. “Hi,” she says, her voice level and cool. “This bitch’s name is Irene.”
Thora turns on her heel to face her. She’s several inches taller than Irene, but Irene holds her own and returns the glare Thora’s giving her. I hover between them, my pulse quickening.
“So you’re the one who’s messed with my sister twice now,” Thora says, dangerously calm. She prowls around the hood of Irene’s car, examining it. “Hmm. Seems like your ride is good as new. Wouldn’t it be a shame if my hand slipped?”
She holds up her car key and mimes like she’s going to scrape the driver’s side door.