“I guess we never thought of it,” Peyton says. “Mostly we just oversee what’s going on at school. We don’t really plan stuff.”
“I think you should plan stuff. You could have, like, different themes, make it fun.”
“That would be cool. What kinds of themes?” Brad asks.
“There’s tons to choose from. Mexican, Moroccan, Roman, French, Eighties. You can have people, like, dress in the theme. You could ask the café to, like, cook food that fits the theme, maybe have music and stuff.”
“Like, how would we get, like, the money to do, like, that?” Whitney sneers, making fun of my idea as well as the way I talk.
“Do a fund raiser? Make people to pay to participate?”
“People wouldn’t come. They would think it’s lame,” Whitney says. She rolls her eyes at me, then looks at Brad to continue. Like we’re done with this silly conversation.
I let my eyes scan the room. I don’t know them all personally yet, but I recognize everyone here. And they all have one thing in common. They are leaders. Mariah, head cheerleader and swim team captain; Marcus, student body president and crew team captain; Peyton, dance and soccer team captain and on every other committee there is; Brad, football co-captain, track standout, and letter club president; Logan, drama club, National Honor society president, and lacrosse star; Sheila, Art club, band, swing choir, and award-winning soloist; Chaz, president of anything to do with math and science; and Whitney.
Brad starts to speak, but I interrupt him and decide to go for broke.
I stand up and start gathering up my bag. I turn to Brad and say quietly, “I think I misunderstood this committee, so I should probably go.”
Whitney practically applauds. “You probably should,” she says in her bitchiest tone.
But Brad says, “What do you mean?”
“I was under the impression that you all were the most influential students at this school. But, hey, if you can’t pull it off, no one can.”
I hear a whole lot of murmuring and talking amongst themselves. Talking to each other. I’m in a room full of competitors. They are so going to take the challenge.
They all start talking to Brad at once, agreeing that it might be fun to try.
And, pretty soon, they decided they could do it.
“Well, newbie,” Brad says to me. “Looks like we needed some fresh blood in here to give us the kick that we needed. Not everyone is in agreement, but I’ll tell you what. I’m appointing you the liaison between the committee and the staff on this little project. If you can get it approved, we’ll do it.”
They think I’m gonna balk at this, but I don’t. If there is one thing I have learned growing up with a movie star mom, it’s how to throw a good party. And I fully intend to get it approved.
After the meeting, Peyton pulls me aside. Whitney is standing next to her, scrutinizing her manicure and pretending to be bored.
“Just how did you get on this committee? You aren’t really in anything yet.”
“I got nominated by a teacher. Same way that you got on.”
“You’re supposed be nominated by being a leader in the classroom. Pretty unusual to get nominated after only two weeks of school.”
I shrug my shoulders at her. “Yeah, well, someone needs my help on something, and this is sorta my reward.”
“That’s bullshit. The rest of us had to work for it,” Whitney pipes in.
I turn around and face her. “You had to work to get nominated by a teacher? You’re not president of anything either, Whitney. Wonder what you had to do for it?” I raise my eyebrows at her and smirk.
She fumes and Peyton says, “Why would a teacher need your help?”
“I’m fluent in French.”
“So?” Whitney scoffs.
“She asked me to tutor your brother,” I say directly to Peyton.
Her face goes white.
I believe she is now between what is called a rock and a hard place.
So I continue. “You know, I can always change my mind. He could probably get another tutor. We can work together and do some really cool stuff, or I’ll quit both this and your brother. I’ll leave it up to you.”
Brad says from across the room, “Hey, Keatyn, come walk with me. I want to talk to you a little more.”
“As long as you’re walking straight to coffee. I’m in dire need of some caffeine.”
“Dude, me too,” he says.
We’re standing in line for coffees when Dawson comes up from behind me, grabs me around the waist, and kisses the side of the neck. “Damn, Keatie, looking good.”
I giggle. Dawson says to Brad, “Hey, you got a good speech planned for the pep rally?”
“Speech?” I ask.
Dawson says, “Yeah, the football captains have to speak today. I’m offensive captain, and Brad is the defensive captain. We gotta get everybody pumped up for the game.”
“Wow. Cool. Good luck.”
“I’m gonna need it. I have no idea what I’m going to say,” Brad says, looking worried.