Ashlee's Rival Love Read online

  “I’m anxious to hear your ideas about uniting our school,” she said.

  I shifted uneasily in my chair. I would have to wait until after the meeting and talk privately with Principal DeGraff. Until then, I would have to talk about the school. “There’s a lot of tension between the schools and so many new traditions for us to get used to. I wonder if a dance would help.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Tanner said. “I was thinking of the same thing. We could call it a get-acquainted-dance.”

  “That could be arranged,” said Principal DeGraff. “When did you want to have it?”

  “As soon as possible,” Tanner and I said in unison.

  Principal DeGraff looked at her calendar. “I’ll see if we can arrange it for next week. Any other suggestions?”

  “I’m sure we’ll have more suggestions in a few days. Right now, it’s too soon to see what else needs to be done,” said Tanner.

  I tried not to look at him. Every time I did my muscles tightened. He had been a jerk by the locker, but he had agreed about the get-acquainted-dance. He seemed to care about the school, yet he never returned my calls during the summer. It didn’t make sense.

  Principal DeGraff sorted through some papers on her desk. “Very well.” She held a chart in front of us. “I’d like you to go over the purpose of the consolidation. You know most of the reasons, but I don’t think you understand the school boards point of view.”

  She went on to explain how Westview and Carlton needed new schools. Neither had the budget that would allow it. The only solution was for the towns to consolidate. Since Westview was larger, a small addition would make it big enough to accommodate both towns. Carlton High would serve as both towns junior high school.

  The towns hadn’t had a choice. Their only alternative was to consolidate. Still, it hurt. I longed for Carlton. It had always been my dream to graduate in the school auditorium. I loved the warm welcoming atmosphere it had. Who cared if the chairs squeaked? Westview’s auditorium gave me the chills. The atmosphere was cold and depressing, like the school.

  “Mrs. DeGraff, I’m sorry to interrupt you,” the secretary said, peeking in the door, “but you’re needed in the chemistry lab right away.”

  “I’ll bet Mr. Polter is having trouble with that new equipment.” She rose and headed for the door. “I’m sorry I have to leave. You can stay and discuss your ideas further if you wish. Thank you for your suggestions. I’ll meet you backstage before the assembly begins.”

  “Mrs.DeGraff,” I rushed to the door as she closed it and before I could pull it open Tanner stood in front of the door.

  “Sit down Ashlee.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “We need to talk.”

  “Please open the door. I have to speak to Mrs. DeGraff.”

  He crossed his arms and leaned against the door. “After we talk, then you can speak to her.”

  He was beyond rude. “Open the door.”

  “Not yet.” His eyes reflected a stubborn streak. “Look, Ashlee, I know you want to talk to her so you can resign, but you can’t.”

  “I can do whatever I want and how did you know I was going to resign?”

  “You’re not very good at hiding your opinion of me.” His mouth turned up in an amused smile. “Besides, I figured you’d want to because I was thinking of doing the same thing.”

  “Why?” I knew why. He didn’t like me. It shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did.

  “My reason doesn’t matter. What’s important is that I realized it wouldn’t work. Don’t worry, I decided what you should do. Stay as co-president and get to know me. When you do you’ll see that I’m right about everything.”

  I couldn’t believe my ears. This guy was unreal. “How considerate. You have everything figured out, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You forgot one thing Tanner Ryan.” I pointed at myself. “Me. Did it ever occur to you that I might not agree with you?”

  “No. But knowing you, I should have.”

  “You are the most arrogant guy I’ve ever met. I have no idea how you got elected as co-president. I feel sorry for the person who replaces me.”

  “You’re not so easy to get along with yourself. And no one is replacing you. Mrs. DeGraff won’t let you resign. It would create chaos if you did. There’s enough tension in the school already.”

  “There’s no way I can work with you.”

  “You don’t have a choice. I’m not thrilled to work with you either. If I resigned it would divide the school more than it already is. I can’t do that to the kids, and I’m surprised you can.”

  He was right. The school would split in half if either of us quit but I couldn’t admit it to him. “They would be better off with two leaders who got along and agreed on the issues.”

  “We agreed on the dance. We can get along if you would just try.”

  “I’m glad you liked my idea of the dance, but we have to agree on more than that. Just admit it Tanner, the only way we can work together is if I do everything you want.”

  “That’s not true. I’ll bet we have a lot of the same ideas. We haven’t had a chance to talk.”

  I thought of all the phone calls I had made to him during the summer. We would have had a chance if he had returned them. “I wonder whose fault that is.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Never mind. Would you open the door, please?”

  “You can’t resign. Just think of someone else for once. I know Westview kids. It would crush their morale. It’s been hard to share our school. We’ve been through enough already.”

  “You’ve been through enough?” My voice sounded like a squeaking pig. “I’ve got news for you. No one wants to go to your precious Westview. Talk about tough. Try being forced to go to a different school in your senior year. One that makes no bones about resenting your presence.”

  He bit his lower lip and glared at me. “We’re not going to accomplish anything this way. Let’s just agree to be co-presidents.”

  “You’re dreaming if you think we can work together. We can’t even have a conversation without arguing.”

  “That’s not my fault.”

  “Are you implying it’s mine? You change everything around so that I’m to blame.”

  “That’s because you are. You’re being unreasonable. You won’t listen to anything I say.”

  “Why should I? You haven’t said anything, except what you want, or what you think I should do.”

  He moved slightly and I reached for the doorknob.

  “There’s no way I’m going to be your co-president.” I opened the door and ran into the hall before he could stop me.

  I rushed from the office angry enough to run a marathon. With each step I thought of Tanner. I imagined him under my foot, being squished. It gave me some satisfaction. He had acted like a jerk. He was arrogant, domineering, and rude. No matter what, I wouldn’t work with him. He could find another co-president.

  Turning the corner, I slowed down and tried to get a hold of myself. I couldn’t wait to tell Sarah about the meeting. She was the only person I could be open with. I liked that about her. We had confided in each other since the day we met in fifth grade. At Carlton High we had most of our classes together. I hoped it would be the same at Westview.

  Glancing around, I searched for a familiar face. The hall was packed with students I didn’t recognize. Bits of conversation vibrated through the corridor. Lockers creaked and feet shuffled back and forth. It sounded like an ordinary school. Only one thing was missing, laughter. A funeral parlor had happier people. A group of students leaned against the wall staring at me. Their expressions were hostile, not friendly like Carlies. They had to be Westies. So far, my impression of Westview students was a zero, especially the guys.

  I battled my way down the crowded corridor passing the auditorium with the blue stage curtains and the cardboard mustang mascots on either side. A group of Carlton kids stood in front of i
t. Not a Westie was in sight. Eagles and Mustangs had already formed their own cliques.

  “Hi, Ashlee,” Kim Doran yelled across the hall. I waved back and rushed to greet my Carlton friends. Even though they smiled and talked about their summer vacations, and class schedules, tension was in the air. I understood why. Westview was the most unfriendly school I had ever seen.

  I crossed the hall searching for Sarah. We had agreed to meet in front of my locker.

  “Ashlee, over here,” Sarah called. She peeked out from the gang gathered to the side of our locker. Sarah Larsen was barely five feet tall and she frequently got lost in the crowd. Her size was the only small thing about her. She was such a brain and oozed with confidence and charm. When kids said we were alike, I took it as a compliment. I squeezed through the throng until I came to a head of curly red hair and pulled her to the side. “Let’s go over here,” I said heading to an empty corner.

  “I’m dying to know how the meeting went.” Her brown eyes were wide with interest. “What was Tanner like? I’ve heard he’s a real hunk.”

  “He is. He’s the cutest boy I’ve ever seen. But he’s also the most self-centered.” I quickly recounted my meeting with Tanner. Remembering my first reaction to him made my arms break out in goose bumps.

  “I had hoped he would be a nice guy,” Sarah said. “It doesn’t make sense that he changed the minute you told him your name. Why didn’t he introduce himself?”

  “I don’t know. He’s just weird.”

  “You didn’t hit it off, that’s for sure. But if anyone can work it out, you can.”

  I leaned against the wall. “I don’t see how. We don’t agree on anything.”

  “Give him time. You’ve always been able to get along with everyone.” She glanced at my feet. “I don’t think anyone will notice your shoes. Not if you stand with one foot behind the other while you’re behind the platform.”

  I swallowed hard. “I hope you’re right.”

  “You don’t realize how much of your personality comes across on stage. You’re confident and strong. The kids will notice that. And the guys will fall for you.” She giggled. “They always do.”

  I blushed. “No, they don’t.”

  “Are you kidding? You’re tall and you look like a Barbie doll. I wish I had blonde hair.”

  She hated her red hair and petite frame. I understood because I wished I wasn’t tall and blonde. I would love to be a petite red head. All the guys carried her books and opened doors for her. “It isn’t that much fun to be a blonde. I have to put up with the blonde jokes and constantly prove I have an IQ over ten. You’d hate that, Miss Four Point Zero.”

  “I could get used to it.”

  I reached into my bookbag and pulled out my schedule. “Let’s see if we have any classes together.”

  She held her list next to mine. “Great, we have English together and our homeroom.”

  I glanced at my watch. “Do you want to go there now? The doors are probably open.”

  She nodded and we headed down the hall. The chatter ceased as we left the lockers. “Did you find out why Tanner didn’t return your calls this summer?”

  “No, I wanted to ask him, but we were too busy arguing. That’s practically all we did.”

  “I still don’t understand why he doesn’t like you.”

  “He’s a strange guy. I hope the rest of the Westview boys aren’t like that.”

  Sarah giggled. “Some of them are cute.”

  We stopped at our homeroom and peeked inside. Some of the kids had already taken seats.

  “The classroom looks so different from Carltons’, doesn’t it?” Sarah asked.

  “Yeah. Everything about Carlton was friendly, even the teachers and students. The classrooms were small and colorful.” I glanced at the white hallway. “The janitors never would have painted the walls white.”

  “Remember the hallway that the senior class decorated with stars and clouds?”

  I nodded. “I loved it. It made it seem like home. They could never do that here. Carlies are going to have a hard time adjusting to this school.”

  “You care so much about everyone. The kids trust and listen to you. You’re a natural leader. Are you sure you want to resign?”

  “I don’t know what to do. I can’t work with Tanner.”

  “Don’t make a decision yet. Give yourself time to think about it.”

  I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Are you Ashlee Stone?”

  I spun around and faced a beautiful girl with long auburn hair. “Yes, I am.”

  She stared at me with hostile blue eyes. Her gaze traveled slowly from my hair to my feet. She snickered when she saw my shoes.

  She had a lot of nerve. It made me uncomfortable to be examined like that, especially when I noticed her clothes. None of my friends wore silk dresses and heels to school. Although on her the clothes looked right. The rest of the school looked underdressed by comparison.

  She stared at my clothes, and flashed me a condescending smile. “You must be from Carlton. A Westie wouldn’t wear those shoes and that skirt.”

  I gritted my teeth. “You must be from Westview. No one from Carlton would be so rude.”

  Her expression remained haughty but her eyes showed a flash of uncertainty like that of a cracked porcelain doll about to shatter into pieces. Immediately, I regretted losing my temper. I was still a school leader, and leaders had to be tactful and polite.

  Her eyes narrowed full of anger. She lifted her chin like she was royalty. “I’m Tiffany Russell and Tanner Ryan is my boyfriend.”

  “As your boyfriend likes to say, it figures.” I smiled, hoping she wouldn’t catch the sarcasm.

  “Thank you. Everyone agrees with you. They all say we make a beautiful couple. We were meant for each other. We even have the same initials, T, R.”

  Everything she said bugged me. “That’s nice,” I said turning to go.

  “Wait a minute. I want to make myself clear. Stay away from Tanner.”

  I spun around. “I wish I could. He’s not my idea of a fun guy, but unfortunately we have to work together.”

  “What do you mean by that? You are lucky you get to work with him.”

  “Look, the class is filling up and I don’t have time to keep talking to you.”

  “ I know you like him. Every girl does.”

  I reached for the doorknob and stepped inside the classroom. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m not done talking to you.”

  “Maybe not, but I’m finished listening.” I said just before the door closed.

  Backstage in the auditorium, I found a mirror and ran a comb through my hair. I was still fuming over my run-in with Miss Conceit. She meant trouble. If I hadn’t met some nice Westies in my Geometry class, I would have been discouraged. Tanner and Tiffany were poor examples of Westview students.

  I pulled my hair back, then forward. No matter what I did it didn’t look right. My hair would never be perfect like Tiffany’s. Disgusted, I threw my comb in my purse. She was the last person I wanted to imitate. Yet I admired her flawless appearance. I wanted to look perfect, to appear confident and stylish for the assembly. Instead, I looked like I couldn’t dress myself. I couldn’t do anything about my shoes and skirt and that bugged me. I preferred to be in control.

  The shuffling of feet and squeaking chairs drifted backstage.

  Principal DeGraff peeked through the velvet curtains. “Ashlee, we’ll start in a couple of minutes. Tanner is checking the sound system and then we’ll be ready.”

  “Thanks. Mrs. DeGraff. I’ll be right out.” I rubbed my hands together anxiously. My fingers felt like dripping icicles. Staring at the stage curtain, I realized I had missed my chance to tell her I wanted to resign, although there had never been any choice. Everything had been out of my hands from the beginning. I couldn’t change anything that had happened and I couldn’t change Tanner. He was self-centered and bossy. That didn’t bother me as much as the fact that he was right.
Neither of us could resign.

  Tanner stepped backstage with his arms folded across his chest. “I figured you’d stay.”

  All he had to do to get me angry was open his mouth. “What makes you think I’m staying?”

  “You’re here aren’t you?” He grinned. “Besides, your face says it all. You’re ready to throw something at me because you have to admit I’m right.”

  “You’re right about one thing. You’d make a great target.” I glanced around me. “Too bad I didn’t bring my books with me.”

  You’re very stubborn,” he said motioning toward the stage. “Come on. We’re ready to start.”

  I tucked my notes in my pocket and walked past him.

  He stopped me and put his hand on my arm. “To tell you the truth, I wasn’t sure you would show up for this assembly but I’m glad you did.”

  It was the first nice thing he had said to me. I gulped, “Well, sure, okay,” and went on stage, chiding myself for sounding so silly.

  Taking the chair farthest from the podium, I folded my hands in my lap, and tried to appear relaxed. From my position it was hard to see anyone in the audience.

  Principal DeGraff extended a gracious welcome to the student body, then introduced the cheerleaders.

  The girls bounced on stage in an array of blue and white pompoms. “Hooray for Westview, hooray for Westview. Champions we are one.” Every jump and kick was precise and well rehearsed. They finished the cheer by throwing their pompoms in the air and forming a pyramid with a petite brunette on top. Some of our Carlton cheerleaders helped make up the team. It was strange to see them cheer for Westview. Only half of the audience applauded. I squirmed uneasily. Most of the Carlton kids sat with their hands in their laps. Sighing, I exchanged glances with Tanner. He chewed his lower lip in concern. Uniting Westview was going to take more than a get acquainted dance.

  Principal DeGraff introduced Tanner next. He rose and strolled to the microphone. Confidence showed in every step he took. He spoke without notes and leaned into the stand completely relaxed. The audience laughed at his jokes and listened attentively.

  I ran my fingers over my note cards. My speech was dull compared to his.