Ashlee's Rival Love Read online

  Debbie and Becky ran toward me. “Ashlee, wait.”

  “Guess who asked me to the Frolic?” Debbie paused to catch her breath, “Rick Morelli.” She spread out her arms like she was going to break into a cheer. “Can you believe it?”

  “That’s wonderful,” I said.

  “Ben Wynters asked me,” Becky said, shaking her head up and down. “I’ve been waiting forever for him to notice me.”

  I smiled at her. She was all movement, as usual. “Congratulations, Ben’s a nice guy.”

  Becky shifted from one foot to the other. “Not only that, he’s a good linebacker and he can count.” She chuckled, “He’s an athlete with brains.”

  “He’s not as smart as Rick,” Debbie said. “He’s on the honor roll.”

  Becky put her hands on her hips, “So, Ben’s been on the honor roll for three years.”

  “Maybe he has,” Debbie giggled, “but Rick has the bluest eyes of any guy in the school.”

  We all burst out laughing while students hurried past us on their way to the parking lot. I had the strangest urge to tell them Tanner was the cutest and smartest guy in school, but I didn’t. “Becky I knew you liked Ben, but Debbie I didn’t know you liked Rick.”

  “I didn’t know it either. It’s weird because we used to argue all the time. Then one day everything changed. I guess there’s a thin line between hate and love.”

  “I wouldn’t know about that,” I said, but it gave me the chills. I had thought I hated Tanner for the longest time. Gradually, we sort of called a truce to the arguing. He could be a nice guy when he wanted to and I liked him. Love was something else. I couldn’t feel that way about him.

  “I’m so lucky,” Debbie said. “I just wish more kids were as happy as I am. We were talking to some girls during lunch. They were down in the dumps because they didn’t have a date to the Frolic.”

  ”That’s too bad,” I said. “We want everyone to go. There would be nothing worse than having kids sit at home the night of the Frolic. But that won’t happen. The girls can ask any guy to the dance.”

  “A lot of girls are too shy to do that,” Becky said.

  I leaned back against the wall. Why hadn’t I thought of that? “You’re right. The trouble is a lot of guys are too scared to ask the girls.” I had assumed once word got around that Tanner and I were going to the Frolic together, nothing else would need to be done. We hadn’t figured on the boys being shy.

  “It’s different this year,” Debbie said. “Tension is high. Normally, most of the girls would have dates by now, but the guys aren’t asking. Westview has changed. No one smiles anymore. We used to be a happy school.”

  “It will be again.” I assured her. “The mood here is better than it used to be. It takes time to adjust.”

  “I hope it happens soon,” Becky said. “The dance will be a disaster if no one comes.”

  “They’ll come. It’s important for our morale to have a big turn out,” I said. “We’re going to make it a success. All we need to do is figure out what’s up with the guys.” I noticed the guys in the council had all asked girls from their own schools, except for Tanner and Jake. “Maybe some of them aren’t shy. They’re just scared. Maybe they want to ask a girl that used to be their rival, but they’re afraid.”

  “Tanner asked you,” Becky said. “He set the example for other guys to follow.”

  “That’s true,” I said. “But I wasn’t his first choice. Everyone knows Tiffany is his girlfriend.”

  Becky shifted her books to her other arms. “Yes, but they also know he’s happy that you’re his date.”

  I couldn’t help myself. I blushed and pretended to be interested in my shoes. “I’m not sure about that. But maybe the other guys need a little push.”

  “Are you saying that we should play matchmakers?” Debbie asked.

  I nodded. “Why not? I’m sure the guys want to ask the girls. They just need a little encouragement.”

  Debbie and Becky glanced at each other, then back at me.

  Becky twisted a strand of hair around her finger. “We’ve been trying all day to figure out a way to help and you come along and solve the problem in a couple of minutes.”

  “I haven’t solved anything yet. Let’s just hope it works. I know several Carlies that like Westie girls. If I can get them to ask the gals to the Frolic then others will follow.” I picked up my poster. “Tomorrow I start playing Cupid.”

  “We’ll do the same.” Becky glanced down at the poster. “Is that for the Frolic?”

  “Yeah, it’s a sample. I’m taking it to Mr. Johnson in the art department. His class is going to make the posters.”

  Debbie pointed to the advertisement for the band. “I see you got Forever Blue to play for us. That’s great.”

  “Yeah, they’re nice guys. They agreed to perform some of Magenta’s hits.”

  “I love Magenta,” Becky said. “Forever Blue is good too.” She glanced at her watch. “We better hurry. The decorating committee meeting is about to start.”

  Debbie finger-combed her bangs. “You’re going to love the decorations we have planned. But Tanner’s making us keep it a secret.” She started down the hall then turned around. “I almost forgot. Sarah wanted me to tell you that the gang is going to Chancy’s after the meeting. She’s saving you a seat.”

  I started for the stairs. I wanted to go, but I dreaded seeing Tiffany. “Okay, I’ll be there after I talk to Mr. Johnson.”

  Mr. Johnson approved of the sample and showed me the gold and brown paper they would be printed on. I took one of each of the colors, and made my way to the courtyard. I couldn’t wait to sit in the sun for a few minutes before I went to Chancy’s.

  The sun peeked through the window in the oak door that led to the courtyard. I pushed it open a crack, and stopped. Tanner stood by the benches with Tiffany. He whispered something and gazed down at her with tenderness. I wished he would look at me like that. I would have given anything to have him feel that way about me. I caught my breath. What was I thinking? What was wrong with me? He held out his arms and pulled her close to him. It hurt to breathe. I wanted to tell him to let her go, although he had every right to hold her. She was his girlfriend. He was crazy about her.

  I was jealous. I held onto the door, as if it were my friend. If I was jealous that meant I was in love. I stifled a gasp with my hand.

  I loved Tanner. How did it happen? For so long we had been at each other’s throats. Yet, there was no denying it. I loved him. I’d had crushes before. My feelings for Tanner were different. Unshed tears stung my eyes. Of all the guys at Westview I had to fall for one who was in love with another girl, a girl I couldn’t stand.

  Inching myself away from the door, I started down the hall. Wasn’t love supposed to make you happy? Since Sarah had met Jake she’d had a smile permanently stitched on her face. I didn’t think I could ever smile again. My heart was shattered into a thousand pieces. I made my way out to the parking lot determined not to cry.

  The school year had barely started. We had the rest of the year to serve together as co-presidents. Somehow I would have to remain cool around him. I couldn’t stand it if he knew. I got into my car and drove home trying to forget how Tiffany looked in Tanner’s arms. I pulled my car into the driveway and ran up to my room.

  Luckily, during dinner that night Mom and Dad got into a discussion about local politics. They didn’t notice that I had barely touched my dinner. When I excused myself to finish my English report, they barely glanced up.

  Upstairs in my room, I curled up in my window seat. I had cried until I couldn’t anymore. But it helped because I began to see things more clearly. I had been hurt and angry. Angry that he was in love with someone else and hurt that he would never return my feelings. Once I realized this, a funny thing happened. I was able to let my love shine through, like a prisoner set free. The shackles of denial were gone and I felt light as air.

  Just thinking about him made me feel warm. I loved the
way his hair fell to the side when he was angry. Now I loved everything green because that was the color of his eyes. I’d be happy if I could gaze into them forever.

  I had been attracted to him since we met. The first time I had noticed the real Tanner was when he stuck up for me on stage. If I hadn’t been so angry I would have admitted I liked him. I loved so many things about him. He liked Magenta and he had a great sense of humor. He was a great leader and devoted to his school, and yet he understood my loyalty to Carlton.

  Leaning back, I picked up a pink pillow in the center of the seat where I had always kept it. Everything was in its place. It gave me security. I wanted my life to be the same way. Only it wasn’t. It hadn’t been since I had met Tanner. I couldn’t control my emotions. I was vulnerable where he was concerned.

  There was a soft knock on the door. Sarah stood in the doorway. “Your mom and dad are in quite a discussion. I was lucky they answered the door. She stared at me with her hands on her hips. “Where were you this afternoon? Why didn’t you come to Chancy’s?”

  “Chancy’s? I’m sorry. I forgot. Did you have a good time?”

  “It’s not like you to forget. I was worried about you. What gives?”

  “I’ve been so busy with the Frolic and all. It just slipped my mind.”

  “Everyone was waiting for you. Tanner checked the school parking lot to see if you were still in school. When he didn’t find your car he was real quiet.”

  My heart beat faster at the mention of his name. “Tanner was looking for me? Where was Tiffany?”

  “Tiffany wasn’t there. Tanner said she had some modeling assignment or something.” She sat on my bed and studied me. “You’ve been crying. What’s going on?”

  I dipped my head slightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Wait a minute.” She chuckled. “I know what it is. You’ve finally realized how you feel about Tanner.”

  “We’re not enemies anymore, if that’s what you mean.”

  “It isn’t, and you know it. I’ve been waiting a long time for you to see you were in love with him.”

  “Okay, so I am. What difference does it make? He’s in love with Tiffany. Have you seen the way he looks at her?”

  “Yeah. I keep waiting for Tanner to wise up.”

  “Not a chance. It’s hopeless.”

  She pulled out my desk chair and sat facing me. “If you’d have been a Westie when you first met him, things would be different between you now. I don’t think he would still be dating Tiffany.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because, then there would have been only one thing keeping you apart, Tiffany.”

  “You’re not making any sense.”

  “It’s simple. The problem is you met as rivals, so it’s taken you months to become friends. You’re both so stubborn. Neither one of you would back down. It hasn’t been just Tiffany keeping you apart. It’s been Carlton too.”

  She was right, but there were other reasons. I remembered what Debbie had said earlier, that there is a thin line between hate and love. “Maybe, but it’s also been me. In the beginning I argued with him because it was easier than admitting I had feelings for him. But none of this matters now. Tanner thinks of me as a friend and I want him to be more than that. I don’t stand a chance as long as Tiffany’s around.”

  She grinned. “Tanner’s not stupid. He’ll come to his senses soon and realize you’re the one he wants.”

  My heart beat double time. “Don’t get my hopes up.”

  She gave me a quick hug. “Don’t underestimate yourself. Jake’s supposed to call me in fifteen minutes. I have to leave. Will you be okay?”

  “Yeah, thanks for stopping by. I’ll meet you by our lockers tomorrow.” I sat against the window and watched Sarah stroll out to her car. I wanted to believe Tanner cared for me, but I knew he worshipped Tiffany. There wasn’t anything I could do except avoid him as much as possible. If we weren’t co-presidents I could. If Westview and Carlton weren’t rivals, our work together would almost end. The school needed to be united more than ever.

  I watched Sarah drive off in her Mustang and suddenly an idea hit me. I knew what I had to do.

  Chapter Seven

  The fragrant aroma of spaghetti sauce, french fries, and tacos, drifted down the hall from the cafeteria. My growling stomach reminded me it was lunchtime. I hadn’t run into Tanner all morning and I was relieved. How could I face him now? I was turning into a real nut case trying to avoid him, but my luck was running out. I couldn’t hide in the lunchroom.

  The only thing was I wanted to see him. I longed to be with him, to hear his voice, and see his smile. If only he wanted to see me too, everything would be perfect. Yet every time his face flashed through my mind I saw Tiffany next to him. He looked at her with the love and tenderness I wished he had for me. He was taken and I had to get that through my head.

  The sooner the school united, the better it would be. I had made an appointment to see Principal DeGraff in two days. That gave me extra time to work on my idea. It was the first step toward my goal.

  Other things were working out as well. Debbie, Gina and I had started our cupid campaign. It was amazing how dropping a little tidbit to the right boy about a girl who didn’t have a date to the Frolic got results. Some guys needed encouragement and some just needed to know the girl they liked didn’t have a date. Now there were a lot more smiling faces in the hall and ticket sales were up.

  Reaching the cafeteria, I slowed down, and checked the line outside the double doors. Tanner wasn’t there, and he wasn’t inside the lunchroom either.

  “Hi, Ashlee,” Gina and Debbie waved to me from the line. “We saved a place for you.” Mark Hanson stood behind them, glaring at me. His thick brows knitted together in a crooked line. We hadn’t spoken since the assembly. When we ran into each other he just frowned.

  Some of the students stared at us. I wasn’t sure what to do. Kids always saved places in the lunch line, although some protested that everyone should wait their turn. Mark looked almost eager for me to step in. He would love to complain that I was setting a bad example, but I refused to give him the satisfaction. Besides, I didn’t mind waiting.

  “Thanks, but I want to get rid of my books, then I’ll get in line.”

  Debbie and Gina nodded. “Okay, we’ll see you after school.”

  Sarah waved to me from the table. “I saw what happened. I was just coming to get you. Mark is a jerk. But don’t worry, you won’t have to stand in line,” she said, pushing a tray toward me. “I got here right after the bell rang and picked up your lunch.”

  I could have hugged her right there. “You’re an angel. But how did you know what I’d want?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Are you kidding? They had your favorites, taco salad and chocolate cake.”

  “I’m starved.” I pulled out a chip and started munching. “Thank you, I’ll pay you back tomorrow and buy your lunch.”

  Sarah waved my thanks aside. “Okay, I can’t wait to tell you about my talk with Miss. Conceit in Geography today.”

  “How is Tiffany?”

  “To hear her tell it, she’s doing all of the work for the dance.” Sarah looked around the room. “Have you noticed she isn’t here?”

  I glanced at Tanner’s empty table. “Yeah, where is she?”

  “She has a big modeling job after school so she has to work on the dance during lunch.”

  “You mean she’s going to miss the council meeting?”

  She giggled. “No, we’re not that lucky. She’ll probably make it for the first fifteen minutes, then she’ll have to leave.” Sarah lifted her chin like Tiffany. “I’m the only one that knows how to make the decorations correctly. The council would just fall apart without me.” Sarah flipped her hair back, mimicking Tiffany. “You know how dedicated I am. I’ll bring my lunch to the art lab and eat while I work.” Sarah lowered her chin and grinned. “Those were her exact words.”

  I chuckled. �
��Does she have that much to do?” I had been too busy booking the band to see what they were doing. Besides, the committee wanted to keep the decorations a secret.

  “No, she didn’t have time to help with the shopping. And she couldn’t do the cutting because models need to protect their hands. So we stopped asking her to help.”

  “That sounds like Tiffany. So what do you think she’s working on?”

  “I don’t know. Jake was going to ask her to tie the string on the items we finished.”

  I wrestled a piece of lettuce from under the meat sauce. “Why isn’t Jake eating with us today?”

  Sarah got a dreamy expression on her face. “He’ll come later. He’s helping Coach Evans move some equipment in the gym.” A smile played across her face. “I don’t want to start your heart racing, but Tanner was supposed to help too.”

  Heat flooded my cheeks. I glanced around the lunchroom. It was so noisy with trays banging against each other and the steady chatter from the students you practically had to yell to be heard. “Saaraah. Someone might hear you. I’d die if Tanner found out how I feel.”

  “So what if he did? It wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

  “How can you say that?” I lowered my voice. “You know he likes Tiffany. Besides, I wouldn’t want him to feel sorry for me.”

  “Why would he?”

  “Because I’m just a friend.” My throat tightened. “I really care about him.” I paused and stared at the table, unable to look at her. “No it’s more than that. I love him but he doesn’t love me.” Somehow, the words took away any hope I might have had.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone move next to me. It was Tanner. He seemed to come out of nowhere.

  “How do you know he doesn’t?” he asked.

  Instinctively, I put my hand over my mouth. Had he heard me say his name? My life was ruined. I wished I could snap my fingers and become invisible. “How did you, I mean, what are you doing here?”

  His face carried a playful expression. “Isn’t this the lunchroom? I plan to get something to eat as soon as the line goes down.”