Four Doors Down(17)

I cock an eyebrow. “Zara?”

He shrugs. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

“Well if you’re gonna take a girl from this school, I can probably guess her name in like five guesses.” He raises an eyebrow and I smirk at him. “Seriously, you guys all date like the same ten girls. Dude, it’s pretty incestuous! And it’s like a rule that they have to be a cheerleader.”

Jake starts to laugh. “Shut up, Becca.”

“I’m being serious.”

“I dated Sally Hopkins for six months last year.” I roll my eyes, conceding that one. Sally’s not a cheerleader, but she is on student council so it’s just as bad. “And Ryan’s dated tons of people who aren’t cheerleaders.”

I start to laugh. “That’s because Ryan’s dated most of the school. And that’s another reason I wouldn’t go to the dance; like I want to see Ryan crowned King and him thinking he’s even more important than he already does!”

“You’re too harsh on him, Becca.”

“Oh come on, Ryan gets whatever he wants, whenever he wants and whoever he wants. And you know it.”

“Not whoever he wants.”

I roll my eyes. “We both know that for some strange reason Ryan can get any girl in this school. And has dated most of them.”

“He dates around to distract himself.”

“From what? His perfect life?”

Jake’s gaze levels me and he doesn’t say anything for a couple of minutes. “You really are clueless, Becca.” I roll my eyes. I don’t really want to get into a discussion about Ryan with Jake. When we first fell out, Jake used to try to talk to me all the time about him, but he stopped doing that when he saw how annoyed it made me. I really hope he’s not about to start up again now. And besides, Ryan’s life is perfect. He’s a star athlete, ridiculously popular, has a great family and doesn’t have to worry about money. If Ryan’s only problem is me thinking he’s a douche, then he’s got it pretty good. “You’re like the most oblivious person I’ve ever met,” Jake continues.

I scowl at him. “I resent that,” I tell him. “I’m incredibly perceptive.” Jake cocks an eyebrow at me and I start to laugh. Okay, so that’s a lie. I’m not incredibly perceptive but why should I pay attention to things that don’t affect me? I have enough to figure out with this whole first boyfriend thing without paying attention to other people’s lives.

Jake sighs. “Look, you really should come to homecoming. We’ll show our faces for like two minutes and then go down to the beach or hit up a party or something.”

“We?”

“Sure.” He grins. “You can be my date. And you’re not a cheerleader,” he finishes smugly.

I can’t help smirking at him. There’s not a chance I’m going to homecoming and it’s definitely not Charlie’s scene, but it’s nice that Jake wanted to go with me, his friend, rather than trying to use it as a chance to hook up with some girl he’s probably already been with a million times. He used to invite me to anything and everything, but I always said no. Then he stopped asking and I have to admit that sometimes, I missed him asking. That’s another thing I blame Ryan for—getting in between my friendship with Jake. Granted, it’s me avoiding doing anything social with Jake because Ryan will be there, but still. I blame him.

“Who’s not a cheerleader?” My head turns and I see Mason slide into the seat next to me. I look around and see students spilling out of the school building. The bell must have rung and we didn’t notice. “What up, McKenzie?” he greets me. I stare back at Mason, surprised he’s acknowledging me and he offers me an easy grin, like it’s the most natural thing in the world for us to be sitting next to each other chatting. This is weird. Mason and I don’t talk.

“Becca,” Jake answers Mason’s question. “She’s gonna be my date for homecoming.”

I roll my eyes at his words and Mason starts to laugh. “Serious? Can I be there when you tell Jackson?” They share a look and I screw my face up confused. Why would Ryan care if I went to a lame school dance with Jake? Then I remember that he doesn’t like me and probably wouldn’t want me hanging out with his best friend.

“He’s joking,” I clarify to Mason. “I am definitely not going to homecoming.”

“Becca, come on!” Jake carries on. “We’ll go in a big group, rent a limo. It’ll be fun. Ryan’s going stag so the three of us can go together. Like old times.”

I cock an eyebrow at him. Like old times? Not a chance. I know I’ve spoken to Ryan a bit more recently, what with his grandma and everything, but that does not mean we’re suddenly friends again. “That ship has sailed.” Jake sighs in annoyance. “Homecoming’s lame, anyway.”

“Yeah. It’ll be totally lame,” Mason agrees. “Your boy will get crowned, we’ll leave, then we’ll get wasted. Same as always.”

“My boy?” I ask confused. I look over at Jake, who’s looking at me intently. “Who’s my boy?”

Mason’s eyes find Jake, who shakes his head just ever so slightly at Mason. “Oh, I just meant your neighbor. Like Ryan’s your neighbor and will probably be king.”