Page 100 of The Prom Queen Project
“Very nerdy of you,” Andrew teased, flashing a lopsided grin. “I like it.”
I exhaled through my nose, breathing softly. For the last four years, I had been terrified of exposing who I was to everyone infear of tarnishing my reputation, but this moment proved that I didn’t need to be scared anymore. Relief flooded my system.
Despite everything I had put Andrew and Dani through, they were still by my side. And even after my falling out with Kendra, she showed me that people make mistakes and that second chances are possible. The three of them had even tried to protect me after Meredith displayed that page from my journal. They had my back.Just like a real friend should. And not once did they question my relationship with Elliot.But why?Weren’t they at least a little skeptical?
“How come you guys never asked?”
Dani knit her brows together. “Asked what?”
“About me and Elliot. If our relationship was fake.”
“‘Cause.” She shrugged. “It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that you two have been into each other forever.”
Andrew threw one arm over the other, shooting a quick glance at Dani. “Pfft. Eyes have nothing to do with it. Even blind people can see that theyloveeach other.”
“Plus, you guys argue like an old married couple,” Kendra added.
Elliot let out a small chuckle, smacking his lips. “Alright, then.”
“Good to know it was painfully obvious to everyone except us,” I muttered.
Elliot reached for my teal mug, grasping the handle as he stole a sip of my coffee before mumbling, “Speak for yourself.”
“Yeah,” Andrew drawled out. “So,again…about that whole ‘smart’ thing, you sure about that?”
I kicked his leg under the table, causing his knee to knock against the underside with a thud as he let out a yelp. The group broke out into a fit of laughter along with the occasional snort escaping my lips as we shrugged off curious glances thrown our way from the people at nearby tables.
Twenty-four
“Are you ready for this?”
“You mean my first and last cheer event of the year?” Andrew stroked his imaginary beard. “Yup.”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Kendra said, tossing her braids behind her shoulder as she brushed a layer of mascara onto her eyelashes. “You cheered with us before.”
“Everyone knows soccer and volleyball don’t count. It’s all about football…well, I mean—thatand pep rallies—because that’s the only time we get our fifteen seconds of fame.”
I frowned. “It’s fifteenminutes.”
Andrew slowly turned his head toward me, his eyes darkening. “I will literally drop you during the pyramid.”
“Have I told you how much I respect you, yet?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Kendra’s eyes flicked back and forth between Andrew and I. “It’s giving brother and sister.”
“I guess sheislike the older sister I never wanted.” He shrugged. “But Iamgrateful to have her in my life…sometimes.”
“That’s like…the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“And it’s probably the last, so don’t get used to it.”
“You’re like a brother to me, too, Andrew,” I said as I shuffled toward him, wrapping my arms around him.
He groaned, causing me to expel a breathy laugh at his general unease. Kendra propped a hand on her hip, the corner of her lip upturned as she watched Andrew hesitantly pat me on the back awkwardly.
