Page 93 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

Aaron

“I got us Homecoming tickets,”Zara said the next morning when she accosted me outside my locker.

“You did what?”

Her brows furrowed with annoyance. “I got us Homecom—”

“I heard you the first time, Zar. You thought that would be a good idea. Why exactly?”

“Because it’s senior year, and I’m the cheer captain and you’re the football captain so it makes sense for us to go together. Besides, who else would you go with?”

Who else indeed.

My eyes searched the hall for any signs of Poppy but I hadn’t seen her yet.

Or Hannigan.

“So I was thinking we should coordinate colors. Obviously, Raider blue and white but I don’t know if I should do a white dress with blue accessories or— Aaron.” She jabbed me in the ribs. “Are you listening to a word I”m saying?”

“W-what?” I blinked down at her, and she let out a little huff of exasperation.

“It doesn’t matter. We can figure it out. We have time.”

“Right.” What the fuck was she going on about? Her voice grated on me like nails on a chalkboard. I couldn’t think straight as it was and she wouldn’t shut the fuck up.

Jesus. It was too early for this shit.

“We just need to find Cole a date now.” She went on oblivious to the irritation coursing through me. “Maybe Madison or Beth will want to go with him. Although Madison was kind of put out the other week when he blew her off.”

“I don’t think Cole will be bothered about going without a date.” Like I wasn’t bothered, but telling Zara ‘no’ was more hassle than it was worth.

Even if I did have to survive… this.

“Yeah, but we’ll be together, and Ezra has Ashleigh, and Poppy is going with Eli.”

My spine went rigid. “What did you say?”

“She didn’t tell you?” Zara pouted, twirling the ends of her curled ponytail around her finger. “Guess it slipped her mind. Oh, I know. Cole and Sofia could go together.”

Any other day the idea of my sister going on a date with Cole would have freaked me the hell out, but I was too caught up on the part where Zara said Poppy was going to Homecoming with Eli.

Together.

On a date.

Didn’t seniors hook up after Homecoming?

Fuck.

“They’re definitely going together?” I blurted.

“Well, that’s what Eli told his friends on the swim team. I heard them talking about it earlier.”

“Right.”

My stomach dropped into my fucking toes. She was going to do it. Poppy was going to go on a date with Eli and hook up with him just to hurt me for hurting her.

What a clusterfuck.

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