Billionaires Don’t Fall For Awkward Girls by Emma Dalton
Chapter Six
“Excuse me,” I say as I weave through the crowd of people on my way up the bleachers. Kara, Charlie, and Ally have chosen seats near the front. As the star quarterback’s girlfriend, Kara has some perks. But it’s way too crowded.
Our town of Edenbury is crazy about football, so it’s no surprise that the place is practically flooded with people. Truth is, they’re here for Brayden. Ever since that article in the Atlanta Daily where they did a story on the school, specifically the quarterback, people have come from all over to watch him play. Schools have offered him to play for them, but he chose Astor University.
They’re also here to see the cheerleaders, but I won’t gush about how amazing Teagyn Myers is. The girl’s had it in for me and my friends since day one. I tell myself she’s just jealous of our friendship. Who wouldn’t be? The invisible girls are awesome.
“Dani!” Kara waves at me. I’m still trying to weave through these people. Sheesh! You’d think they were giving away money or something.
When I finally make it, Ally removes her bag from the seat she was saving for me and I sit down. “Gosh! I never thought I’d make it here.”
Ally looks at me. “Didn’t you have to work tonight?”
“Finished. I rushed like a madwoman to get it all done and get my butt here in time.”
Kara bends close. “Sorry you rushed. I told you that you don’t have to come to Bray’s games.”
I shrug. “He’s your boyfriend now and it’s important to you.” I grin. “And the season will end soon, so this is my last chance to see him in action until next year.”
“You’re really lucky to have him, Kara,” Ally says.
Kara blushes. “I know.”
I poke Ally with my elbow. “Any new book boyfriends?” Ally falls in love with the men in her romance books and has this image of the perfect guy. Charlie claims she’s setting herself up for disappointment, but I think it’s great that she’s looking for love. Unlike Charlie who couldn’t care less about that.
“No book boyfriends,” Ally says, averting her gaze.
“You lie! Tell, tell, tell!” I urge.
She shakes her head, cheeks a little flushed. “There’s no one.”
“Liar!”
“Excuse me?” a voice says from above. Glancing up, I find none other than the jerk multi-gazillionaire junior standing there. “Is this seat taken?” He gestures to the seat next to me.
My mouth opens and closes. There are so many things I want to say to him—like get lost—but the words are stuck in my throat.
Charlie glances at me, then at Easton. “No one’s sitting there. It’s all yours.”
He’s about to drop down, but I place my hands on the seat. His eyes move from it to me and he lifts a brow. Darn it! Why can’t the words leave my mouth? Get away from me. It’s not that hard.
“Actually, I guess the seat is taken,” Charlie says. “Sorry.”
He’s still looking at me. Then he straightens up in his fancy clean-cut clothes and squeaky clean shoes. “Mhm. All right.” And he walks off.
“What the heck?!” I yell at Charlie.
She shrugs. “What? The seat was empty.”
Kara bends close. “What do you have against Easton anyway? Bray said he’s cool.”
I grit my teeth. “He’s an arrogant jerk who treats me like garbage. All because he’s rich and I’m not.”
“I’m sure that’s not true, Dani,” Ally says. “Maybe you’re blowing things out of proportion?”
I throw my hands up. “On the first day of school, he said I talked too much. He told me to shut up. Then earlier this week he yelled at me to watch where I’m going because we almost crashed into each other. It’s like he was worried I’d contaminate him. I don’t want to see him as long as I live. He should go to one of those boarding schools for rich kids instead of slumming it here with commoners.”
My friends exchange a look. “Okay, I get it,” Kara says. “But calm down before you pop a blood vessel.”
I glare at the floor. “I’m way past popping blood vessels. My whole body is about to hit its boiling point.”
Ally rubs my back and my friends talk about other things going on around school, like the next issue of the Edenbury High Times. Kara’s on the paper and because she wrote an article about our star quarterback, more students have been reading it.
“But it’s hard to keep them invested,” Kara says. “I mean, we can’t write about Brayden and the football team in every issue.” She leans back. “Our editor Martina’s stressing out, but I reassured her we’ll find something.”
The game starts and Kara’s on her feet, cheering for her boyfriend. It’s impossible to hear her over the crowd, but Brayden must have special ears that filter out all the other noise because his head lifts and he smiles at her. It’s such a sweet, heartwarming smile.
A few rows away, Bailey yells at the top of her lungs, waving a foam finger around. Brayden’s parents cheer as well. When Bailey spots us, she whispers something to her Mom, then dashes over to our row, squeezing through the people until she reaches Kara and jumps on her lap.
“Kara!” The foam finger whacks Kara’s nose as Bailey gets comfortable on her lap. “You see Bray the Bulldozer?!”
Kara holds her close. “I sure do.”
She waves to me and the others before turning back to Kara. “I’m gonna be just like him when I’m older. And Mommy and Daddy and Brayden will cheer at my games and even Brock will cheer from heaven.”
“I know he will.”
Bailey beams. Then she hops off Kara’s lap. “Mommy said I could only say hi and that I need to go back. Bye!” She hops away.
Charlie shakes her head. “That kid has way too much energy.”
“All that matters is that she’s happy,” Kara says. “Brayden was worried his parents were drifting apart because of his brother’s death and it would affect Bailey, but they’re doing much better now.”
“That’s great,” Ally says. “It breaks my heart when parents split up. I think most married couples could work out their problems, if both sides are willing.”
Charlie playfully rolls her eyes. “Still the hopeless romantic.”
“Still the anti-romantic,” Ally counters, a light tone in her voice. “But really, it’s true. Romance is so special, if it’s with the right person. If people no longer get along, I believe they can get back together. The love doesn’t just disappear.”
Charlie shrugs. “People change and fall out of love. There isn’t anything you can do about it.”
Ally shakes her head. “My parents are just as in love as they were twenty years ago.”
Kara smiles sadly. “Mine were too, before my mom died. Dad still hasn’t gotten over it. There are so many times I catch him staring at their wedding album when he thinks I’m not there. I asked if he thought about dating again and he flat out told me no.”
I think about my parents. They’re still in love, I guess, but they hardly see each other. I doubt they have time for romance.
I don’t realize I’ve let out a heavy sigh until Ally turns to me with wide eyes. “You okay?”
“Fine. Just thinking. It’s nothing.”
We focus on the game and I find myself jumping to my feet and cheering for the team. They’re owning this game, not surprising, but the adrenaline rush is real. I forget about dance, work, my parents and how guilty I feel, and just have fun.
From somewhere above, I detect a deep voice carrying over the others. A familiar voice.
Ugh. It’s bad enough I have to see Easton Knight Jr. at school and at this game. Now I have to hear his elephant voice too?
I glance up and find him on his feet and cheering beside some of his friends.
Our team scores another touchdown and the crowd goes even wilder. I turn away from Easton and shout along with my friends. I don’t look at him for the rest of the game and I force my ears to turn off so I won’t hear that elephant laugh.