"Knock knock knock! Is my favorite little junior home?"

     I stifled my groan of frustration as Victoria Carrington waltzed into my bedroom. She looked like she'd stepped out of a magazine spread on "What to Wear to a Football Game". Her jeans were perfectly fitted and distressed in just the right places. Coupled with a warm sweater and a pair of riding boots, her look seemed effortless despite the fact I knew she'd probably been planning it for days.

     "Hi, Vicky," I said flatly. Once upon a time I would've been tumbling all over myself trying to hide the fact I was preparing to settle in for a night of popcorn and Netflix. Now, I simply returned her stare as she took in my sweatpants, oversized hoodie, and absolute lack of makeup.

     "Well clearly somebody missed the memo," she said, planting her hands on her hips.

     "Vee! C'mon, we have to go!" Brett shouted, poking his head into my room as he pulled a school sweatshirt on over his football Under Armor.

     "You go, I need to help the little one get dressed," she said, not taking her eyes off mine. Brett grumbled something before thumping down the stairs.

     "I'm not going," I said, turning my attention back to the Netflix catalog on the TV. Vicky didn't move or make a sound until I glanced back at her and she raised her eyebrows.

     "Get your butt up off that couch and find something to wear," she said, staring me down. I sighed, blowing my cheeks out.

     "Why do you care if I come or not?" I demanded. She sighed, rolling her eyes as she came to sit down next to me.

     "Listen Maddie, I really couldn't care less if you came or not. But you not coming, well that hurts Brett. And I love Brett, so what hurts Brett hurts me. And Brett loves you, so I guess in a way that means that yeah, I do care a little bit if you're going to ditch all your friends for no good reason," she said, watching me with her perfectly made-up blue eyes. I could feel my jaw muscle pulsing while she waited for me to speak.

     "I'm not going because all the people I hate are going to be there," I said through my teeth. Vicky let out a tinkling laugh so perfect I wanted to smack her.

     "And that's exactly why you're coming with me, duh!" she said, hopping to her feet and dragging me up with her, "Now can you please go find something hotter to put on? Because I refuse to be seen in public with hobos,"

     "Vicky-" I started, but she pushed me towards my walk-in closet.

     "Tick tock! Wouldn't want to miss kickoff!" she said, tapping her foot. I closed the closet door behind me, leaning back against it.

     Okay, so there was no way out of this one. And even if I dreamed up an escape, I'd feel like the world's biggest jerk for missing my brother's big game. It was one thing to tell him I wasn't going and deal with his mopey puppy dog face all week. It was a complete other thing that he was so upset that he'd mentioned it to Vicky. 

      Besides, I knew it was going to suck to be there without my old "friends". Deanna had made it abundantly clear at school that she was over me and that I was now no longer any more significant than a speck of dirt to her. As was to be expected, the rest of the Junior A's followed suit, with even Courtney ceasing her attempts to talk in the hallways. It was a welcome change not to have to dodge them all the time, but I wasn't sure I wanted a front row seat as an outsider to the Friday nights I used to love.

     "If you need some help I'm more than willing!" Vicky sing-songed, knocking on the door. I bit my fist to vent my frustration as I dug through my closet for something to wear.

     "Oh that is so much better," Vicky said, nodding appreciatively when I came out in jeans and loose sweater, "Now about that hair..."

     There was not a thing I could do to stop the Victoria Carrington whirlwind. Before I could get a word in edgewise, she was pulling my hair back into a perfectly executed swept-back ponytail while instructing me on eye makeup. When she was finished with me, I was staring back at the reflection of my old self in the mirror.

      "Now quit ogling yourself and let's go! We're going to be late!" Vicky said, digging her car keys out of her purse and shooing me from my room.

     We made our way back downstairs to her car, past my mom who gave both of us an approving nod when Vicky told her about our plans.

     "Just be home by curfew," she said, barely looking up from her magazine. Vicky promised her that we would, linking her arm with mine to lead me to her car.

     "What do you say to Starbucks on the way?" she asked, her engine roaring to life as she took off down the driveway. I had to restrain myself from gripping the seat as she whipped the turn out of the driveway.

     "Whatever you say," I muttered.

     "Yeah, I kinda feel like a PSL too," she said. She cranked the music, surely so she wouldn't have to talk to her boyfriend's kid sister anymore, only turning it down at the drive-thru window when she ordered us a pair of grande pumpkin spice lattes.

     When we finally made it to the school, the parking lot was packed. But Victoria Carrington was undeterred. She sailed into the handicapped spot right next to the bleachers without a second's hesitation. I thought of opening my mouth to say something, but the nonchalant way she ignored the dirty looks the fellow stragglers to the game were shooting her made me think twice.

     "Well look who finally made it!" Crystal sang, as Vicky and I climbed the bleachers towards where the A's had camped out.

     "And guess who I found?" Vicky said, throwing an arm around me as we approached.

     I didn't miss the daggers Deanna was glaring my way from the other end of the row where the juniors were sitting. But I forced my eyes down and away from them, because a certain surfer-who-shall-not-be-named was among them.

     "Looking spiffy tonight Maddie," Mel said, scooting over to make room for Vicky and I. Vicky sat down first, patting the spot next to her.

     "Come on little sis," she said, "No need to sit over there with the babies anymore,"

     As much as Vicky got on my nerves, I could have hugged her for the look that comment had put on Deanna's face.

                                                                        ***************

     "Come on! That was such a hold! Was that not a hold?!"

     Mel was standing, shouting at the top of her lungs along with the majority of the Clairview-supporting crowd. The rest of the senior A girls giggled as Vicky told Mel to sit back down. I was smiling, laughing along with them. And if we're being honest, I was having a damn good time.

     I'm a hypocrite, what can I say?

     I laughed just as hard as the rest of them when Vicky catcalled Danielle Burke as her cheerleaders flubbed a lift. I also listened just as intently as I used to when Crystal started dishing on the gossip. The latte Vicky had bought me was just hot enough to warm my hands and our team was winning. There wasn't much more a girl could want for on a Friday night.

     Except for maybe a few less death glares.

     I had gotten used to the looks from Deanna every time Vicky laughed or threw her arm around me because those I was expecting. What I hadn't been expecting, however, was the straight up stare down that Ethan fixed on me when he pulled his helmet off at halftime. He was too far away to say anything, but the look he gave me was enough to open a pit in my stomach. Just when I thought I couldn't hold his stare any longer, he shook his head and turned away.

     "So what's the deal with that," Vicky asked quietly, nudging me as she gestured towards Ethan with her Starbucks cup.

     "No deal," I said quickly. She quirked an eyebrow, sipping her latte.

     "Because it sure seems like a deal. I get that you want to get away from Deanna, the girl's a royal pain in the butt, but with him?" she said, her lip turning up as if she'd smelled something rancid, "Why not just hang out with us instead? You know we all like you,"

     I said nothing, staring down at the players as they milled around the bench during the coach's halftime pep talk. Brett and Brandon were side by side, laughing about something when Brett looked up and blew Vicky a kiss. Next to him, Brandon looked our way and waved, his trademark grin on his face. I opened my mouth to answer Vicky when music squealed to life over the speaker sytem as Danielle and her cheerleaders started through a routine at center field.

     "God I hate this bitch," Vicky whined, her eyes locked on Danielle. It didn't help that the music had gotten the attention of the majority of the football players, Brett and Brandon included.

     "Ugh, I know right?" Crystal said from beside Vicky, "And it's not even like they're any good!"

     As if on cue, one of the girls they'd lifted into a scale tumbled backwards.

     "Better luck next time Burpie!" Vicky shouted, snickering with the rest of the senior A's as her voice carried over the music. That pit of dread in my stomach opened even further when Ethan looked back up my way before jamming his helmet back on. The music hit a crescendo then stopped as the cheerleaders froze in their finshing position for a few seconds, before jumping around and waving their poms as they jogged to the sideline.

     "Pathetic," Vicky laughed, shaking her head. The referees whistled the end of halftime and I sat back in my seat, my stomach churning with guilt.

                                                                       ****************

     "I'm so glad you rallied," Vicky said, as we made our way back down the bleachers at the end of the game. When Ethan had nailed the winning field goal, Vicky and I had both leaped up to cheer, hugging each other as the rest of the crowd celebrated the win.

     "I am too," I admitted, stifling my guilt. Despite the snotty looks from Deanna and the glares from Ethan, it had actually turned out to be a fun Friday night.

     "I'm gonna stick around and wait for Brett," Vicky said, smiling as she looked down at me, "Maybe you should hang around and talk to Brandon for a bit?"

     I shot her a sidelong look, to which she replied with a shrug.

     "Just a suggestion," she sang, before dancing away to chat with Tierra and Jeff. I dug my hands into my pockets, shuffling in place as I mulled over Vicky's words. A suggestion from Victoria Carrington was never a suggestion, it was more of a directive. And if her directive was for me to give Brandon some attention, I needed to get out of there before he showed up.

     "You look nice tonight,"

     I nearly bit my lip at the tidal wave of emotion that tore through me as I heard that voice. I had to force my eyes closed for a second to regain my composure before I turned to face Tyler.

     "Thanks," I said simply. It would've been so much easier if he hadn't looked so nice himself in his dark jeans and fitted hoodie. The tentative way his hazel eyes were watching me nearly broke my heart all over again. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed talking to him until we'd come face to face like this, something I'd been avoiding all week since I yelled at him on the stairs.

     "You coming to the party later?" he asked, burying his hands in his pockets as he watched me.

     "I don't think so," I said, looking away for someone, anyone to talk to that wasn't Tyler. My walls were crumbling and I had to get out before they did.

     "I was hoping you would, I wanted to-" he began, reaching out to rest his hand on my shoulder to keep me from turning away. I froze at his touch, the warmth of his fingers seeping through my sweater. Thankfully, the interruption I'd been hoping for pulled up short right next to us.

     "My car, now," Ethan said bluntly, his helmet clutched under his arm. He was still in his uniform and still thoroughly sweaty. Tyler's hand left my shoulder.

     "Well hello to you too," I said, folding my arms.

     "The car. Now!" Ethan said, pushing my shoulder to turn me towards the parking lot.

     "Hey, don't you talk to her like that!" Tyler said, grabbing Ethan by the shoulder pad and whirling him around.

     "Or what, pretty boy?" Ethan demanded, facing off against him. My eyes jumped from one to the other as the muscle pulsed in Tyler's jaw.

     "Touch her again like that and I'll beat the crap out of you," Tyler growled, his face inches from Ethan's.

     "Oh yeah? You think you can take me all by yourself?" Ethan demanded, dropping his helmet, "Why don't we find out!"

    "Hey! Stop it! Both of you!" I shouted, shoving myself between them as Tyler's hands curled into fists.

     "Yeesh, boys, let's just cool it off a little!" Brandon joked, clapping a hand on both Ethan and Tyler's shoulders to not-so-subtly yank them apart.

     If a part of me could have died of mortification right then it would have, especially since Tyler and Ethan both got to witness the wink Brandon shot me. Ethan shook Brandon off with a curse, scooping up his helmet and storming off towards the parking lot.

      I watched him go, hesitating as I looked back at Brandon and Tyler. Tyler was still staring after Ethan, his fists clenched, while Brandon was looking at me, waggling his eyebrows as if to say "look at you, making the boys fight".

    I was too overwhelmed to think the whole mess through, so I did what I could to avoid listening to Tyler say anything else that would smash down the walls I'd built up against him. Turning on my heel, I jogged after Ethan.

                                                                        *************************

So who do you think would've won if it had turned into a fistfight? And do you think Madison should've stuck around with the A's or followed Ethan? Please don't forget to vote and comment if you enjoyed it!