Chapter 5.

I decided that, overall, yesterday had been a good first day of public school. Tae was only in a few of my classes, but Kelsey was in almost all of my classes. There was only one class that I didn't have either of them in, and that was home economics, and we were in assigned groups there anyway.

Throughout the day, I had met more friendly people than I could ever hope to keep straight. Seriously, I worried that it would take me until the end of the year to learn everyone's names. Among the friendly faces Kelsey introduced me to were most of the freshman cheerleaders, all of whom were on JV. That had been one of Kelsey's not-so-subtle hints that I needed to join cheer.

This morning, Kelsey practically tackled me at my locker. "So please tell me you decided to try out for the cheer team," she squealed, fidgeting impatiently while I grabbed my Algebra book, notebook and pencil case.

I gave her a half-hearted smile. "I don't know. I mean, I'd like to, but I'm not sure my dad will agree to it. He might think it's too dangerous."

Kelsey laughed and raised her eyebrows, not quite seeming to believe me. "Seriously?" she asked, shaking her head. "Your dad, the football coach, is worried about cheerleading being dangerous? What about his football players? They're tackled every game! What about them getting hurt?" She said all of this without taking a breath, and was finally forced to pause for air.

"I mean, yeah, cheer is a very demanding and physical sport, but at least you aren't being tackled," she continued.

"What's up? Who's being tackled?" Tae asked, walking up carrying her Spanish textbook, which is the class she had first period.

Kelsey grinned. "Apparently, Lilly thinks her dad will say that cheerleading is 'too dangerous,'" she said. "Or maybe she just doesn't want to go out for the team, but doesn't want to admit it."

Tae rolled her eyes. "You'd be surprised how controlling an overprotective Dad is, Kelsey," she said, defending me. "My dad won't even let me go to a school dance unless Zach is going to be there to supervise. I doubt he'd let me go out for any sports teams. Seriously, I wouldn't get to do anything if Zach didn't make sure Dad let me out of the house sometimes."

I smiled at her, thankful to have a friend who understood how difficult it was to live with my dad. "Have you seen Finding Nemo?" I asked. Kelsey nodded. "Well, my dad is just like Nemo's dad. He loves me, but he doesn't always see things the way other people do when it has anything to do with me. I think he's afraid something bad is going to happen to me, so he has to do everything in his power to prevent it."

Kelsey was quiet for a moment, and I could tell she was trying to think of a clever response. "Well, I dare you to touch the butt," she smirked. "Come try out for cheer after school. If your dad won't let you try new things because he's afraid to get hurt, maybe we need to show him how much you're capable of. Hey, it worked for Nemo."

"Fine," I sighed dramatically, grinning to let them know I was kidding. "I'll do it." Laughing, we walked to our first period classes, and I couldn't help the smile spreading across my face. It was good to have friends.

________

Later that day, Kelsey and I went to the library for our fourth period class, a study hall. We walked over to the table we sat at yesterday and set our stuff down on the table. I looked around the library, and small butterflies formed in my stomach at the sight of the senior football players sitting on the other side of the library.

Kelsey followed my gaze, noticed I was drooling over the football players, and smirked. "So tell me Lilly, have you seen any guys here you think are cute?" She leaned towards me, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

I was so distracted, I barely heard her. Realizing she had spoken to me, I turned to her, and it took a second for me to process what she had just said. I shook my head, laughing. Kelsey was such a classic white girl. Her favorite things were Starbucks, boys, and any and all things drama.

"Such a white girl, Kels," I teased.

"You're avoiding the question," she pushed. "Have you? You have, haven't you?"

I blushed. Maybe. There were a few cute guys here, after all -- Tae's brother included -- but I wouldn't admit to anyone who my crush was.

"Luke!" an annoyingly high pitched, girly voice yelled from across the library.

I turned and looked over the back of my chair at a tall, beautiful girl who looked like a model making her way towards Luke. She was drop dead gorgeous. Her hair, golden brown and perfectly curled, was to die for. And the way she dressed, she must have all the guys at her beck and call. A skimpy white tank top clung tightly to her waist, showing off her slim figure without an ounce of fat, while at the same time pushing up her chest to make her boobs look bigger. Her denim skinny jeans complimented her white sandals perfectly. She was the kind of girl that all guys dream about.

I turned towards Kelsey. "Who is that?"

Kelsey let out an irritated sigh and rolled her eyes. "That's the queen bitch of the school. The only bad thing about the cheerleading squad, and the number one reason rumors spread so fast in this school." Kels paused for dramatic effect, watching as Luke turned in his seat and grinned at the stunning girl. "Her name is Madison King."

"Madison," Luke said with a smirk, standing up and walking over to her. He wrapped his perfectly toned arms around her and pulled her in for a hug.

The two of them embracing made my heart drop. Why did I care about it? I barely even knew the guy. Why did I like him so much? Those perfectly chiseled muscles help. And that adorable smile. And those chocolately brown eyes. Ughh! Stop it, Lilly.

He pulled back slightly, his arms remaining on her waist as he leaned down to give her a kiss--only Madison put her hand up, rejecting him. I quirked an eyebrow in disbelief. Either she had superhuman self-control, or she wasn't that into Luke--and how could you not like Luke? He was dreamy, and hot, and if he had tried to kiss me, I would have--. I shook my head, trying to stop that train of thought. I couldn't go there. It was inappropriate.

"She's a bitch," Kelsey mumbled to me, glaring at Madison.

"Sorry babe," Madison said. She looked around the library, and when her eyes fell on me and Kelsey, she gave a self-satisfied smirk, as though she knew we were watching her. Looking directly into Luke's dreamy eyes she said, "I don't want to ruin my lipgloss."

I turned to Kelsey in disbelief. "She seems-"

"Like a total witch?" Kelsey interrupted. "Trust me, I know." She gave Madison one last evil look before adding, "She doesn't deserve to be dating him. She only likes him because he's the king of the school?"

She's dating Luke? Luke was the king of the school? I guess that made sense, since he was a hotshot football player and incredibly cute. And it explained why he had just wrapped his arms around Madison and went in for a kiss. Still, my heart sank a little. My dream boy had a girlfriend?

Kelsey let out a bitter laugh, drawing the attention of a few nearby people. She didn't even seem to notice. "Of course Madison King thinks she needs the King of the school...get it? That bitch." She mumbled the last two words.

The people who had been paying attention to Kelsey laughed at her words. Eavesdroppers.

I laughed awkwardly. "Why do you hate her so much?" I asked. Then it dawned on me. The glaringly obvious answer, the one thing I didn't want to be true. "Do you like Luke?"

Kelsey smiled at me. "I don't just like Luke. I love him." My heart sank. If Kelsey liked him, I could never be with him. I didn't want to be the kind of girl who sabotaged her friendships over guys.

Kelsey noticed my disappointed look, and a grin spread slowly across her face. "Wait...you like him, don't you? Luke?"

I shook my head, emphatically denying it. No way did I want to hurt her. She'd known him first. She had dibs. Kelsey grinned. "Of course you do. He's smart, he's cute, and he's the most popular guy in school. You'd have to be as crazy as Madison to not like him."

I laughed awkwardly. "Why do you seem to hate her so much?" I asked.

"She's a witch, and I'm afraid she's going to ruin my cousin. As big of a douche as he can be, he certainly deserves better than her."

Cousin?

"But you said--"

"That I loved Luke. And I do. He's family. My cousin," Kelsey laughed. "Why, did you think I meant romantically? Eww. Gross." She looked over at Luke and Madison. Madison was currently leaning over Luke's lap trying to reach something in another guy's hand. "Just look at her. She's such a player. She's going to ruin my poor cousin."

"Your cousin?" I asked stupidly, still struggling to process that information. Kelsey and Luke were related? I mean, I guess I could see a little bit of a resemblance, but still. "Luke is your cousin?"

"Luke Carters. Mr. King of the school. His mom is my mom's sister, so that's why we don't have the same last name." She looked at me and shook her head. "I can't believe you didn't know. I mean, everyone else does. And yuck. I can't believe you thought I liked him. He's such a pig-head."

She glared across the room at Madison. "Right now, he's worse than usual. Madison has her fangs locked into his neck." Kelsey bite her lip, folding her arms almost nervously. "She's toxic."

I didn't understand why she was so worried. It's not like Madison was going to break up with Luke. She'd have the be crazy to. He was the hottest guy in school. He's everything a girl could want in a guy. If I was dating Luke, I would be completely devoted to him. Not that that would ever happen.

"Why are you so worried?" I ask. "Maybe she won't break up with him."

Kelsey shuddered. "Okay, her getting married to him would be way worse," she said disgustedly. "Besides, she's going to break up with him. She's never stayed with a guy longer than 4 months before trading up. And now that she's dated a senior, Madison is going to trade up to the first college guy that will take her."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just changed the subject. "Why wasn't Madison here yesterday?" I asked.

Kelsey rolled her eyes again. "She just got back from vacation in Italy."

Italy? It must be nice to be able to go out of the state, let alone out of the country.

"Oh."

I looked towards Madison and Luke. He looked so happy smiling and laughing with his friends. Madison was sitting on the couch next to him, but her legs were still on Luke's lap. Madison was all over him. I didn't understand what Kelsey was so worried about.

"We need to break them up," Kelsey announced. I looked at her quizzically. Surely I must have misheard her. "We need to get Luke away from her and find him a nice girl. Someone who actually cares about him and will bring him back down to earth and make him act like a normal human being again instead of a cocky jerk." Nope, I guess I heard right. It was official. Kelsey was nuts.

"How do you propose we do that?" I asked, trying to humor her.
Kelsey's eyes glinted mischievously as she turned towards me and smiled. "You like Luke, right? We just have to make him fall madly in love with you. Then he'll dump Madison, start dating you, and we'll all be happy."

I gulped. There was so much wrong with that statement I didn't even know where to start. First off, Madison was older, more popular, and prettier for me. Plus, I was permanently friendzoned because I was the coach's daughter, even if my dad would let me date someone. But I guess having Luke fawn over me wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

"Fine," I said. "I'm in."