Chapter 4
8 years ago…
Isla comes and leans on the locker right next to me. “I am officially saving my virginity for Zayn Wilkinson,” she announces dreamily, clutching her English book to her chest.
I snicker as I rifle through my locker in search of my purple binder. “Great to see that your life goals are all mapped out.”
She sneers at me. “You won’t be laughing when Zayn and I are making out at the prom while you’re in the corner alone stuffing your face with trail mix and lukewarm fruit punch.”
“Whatever,” I sigh. “I like trail mix. And I’ve already decided that I’m not going to the prom.”
Isla gives me an incredulous look. She opens her mouth, probably to chide me about the foolishness of missing out on the once-in-a-lifetime experience that is senior prom, but just then, I feel a playful tug on my ponytail from behind. When I glance back, I see Keeland walking by me, grin spread wide from ear-to-ear. “Tag, you’re it, Mrs. Masters,” he teases before giving a nod to Isla.
My friend giggles softly as he slinks away. “Mmm. Keeland Masters so wants to bone you.” She smacks her freshly-glossed lips.
Yeah, right.
While I’m usually a disheveled mess in jeans and plain sweaters, my best friend has the fashion sense of a real life Barbie doll. Plus, she towers over my shrimpy frame even when she’s not wearing her stylish platform sandals. Guys are lining up to date her, not me.
My eyes follow Keeland down the hall. “He does not,” I insist. “He’s just teasing me. ‘Cause he’s Daniel’s best friend and I’m Daniel’s little sister…And besides, I totally don’t want to bone him.”
She spits out a laugh. “As if you could resist…They don’t call him ‘Master Kee’ for nothing.”
I cringe when she mentions Keeland’s tacky-as-hell nickname.
Master Kee…Master key. Get it?
The guys on the football team began calling him that after a rumor started going around that uptight Gretchen Halliwell had given him her virginity. I overheard Daniel explaining to one of their friends that Keeland had the ‘master key’ because he could unlock even the tightest of pussies.
Ew. Just ew.
I flip my long brown ponytail over my shoulder nonchalantly and turn to my locker, averting Isla’s probing gaze. “I can so resist Keeland. I don’t get what all the fuss is about. He’s not even that cute.” As I say the words, I have to take a quick glimpse down to make sure that my lying pants aren’t on fire.
My best friend gives me an exasperated look. “Whatever – he totally wants you. I can see it in those sparkling blue eyes,” she says poetically.
I slam my locker shut and face her. “You’re delusional.”
She scoffs. “You know you want him, too. You turn into a total weirdo whenever he comes around.”
I furrow my brows. “I do not,” I say defensively.
“Yes, you do,” she insists. “I’ll prove it.” She loops her arm through mine, dragging me down the hall.
“Where are we going?” I ask, moving reluctantly alongside her.
“To talk to Keeland,” she announces. Before I have time to protest, she’s tapping on his shoulder as he opens his locker. “Heya, Keeland.”
“What’s up, Isla?”
“Who ya taking to prom?”
He looks into his locker and shrugs. “Haven’t thought much about it.”
I hock a laugh. He hasn’t thought about it much? He’s the captain of the football team, for crying out loud. I’d bet that half the cheerleading squad has been dropping him not-so-subtle hints for weeks.
He turns to me. “Who’s taking you, Samantha?”
“I’m—I, um, I’m not going. The prom is totally lame, anyway.” The truth is, no one asked me. I’m the youngest person in our class thanks to the fact that I skipped the fourth grade. While that made my parents extremely proud to have a ‘gifted’ child, it sort of mucked up my social life. It feels like most of my classmates look down on me as Daniel’s cute little sister and don’t really take me seriously. And unfortunately, none of the guys dare to cross big, bad Daniel by taking his sister on a date.
Until now…
Keeland gives me a determined look. “Me and you, we’ll go together. It’ll be fun.” He says it so casually. Like it’s a perfectly logical idea.
Isla laughs hysterically. “That’s funny. As if Daniel would let you.”
Keeland shoos her away with the flick of his wrist. “I’ll deal with Daniel,” he says confidently.
The bell rings and Isla adjusts the strap of the oversized purse on her shoulder and smooths back her already-smooth blonde ponytail. “Okay, well I guess I’ll pick up an outfit for your funeral when I go shopping for my prom dress this weekend.”
He chuckles. “You’re a trip, Isla.” He waves his physics books at us as he strolls toward the science lab.
Isla turns with a flourish and clutches my arm, dragging me toward our English class.
She’s rambling on and on about…something, but I don’t hear her. Because I’m on cloud nine.
I think Keeland Masters just asked me to the prom.