Time Cursed by Brooke Lile & Tiffany Roth
CHAPTER 21
“Go. Go Wildcats, Go!”
“Go. Go Wildcats, Go!”
“Aria! Smile please!” Called out Jillian, the cheer captain.
Arlana looked over at Jillian and widened her smile as much as she could. Jillian was notorious for using Vaseline to get the freshmen girls smiling and Arlana was not about to have that happen. That would be so embarrassing, a junior with Vaseline on her gums to keep her smile big.
“Aria, are you guys done yet?” called out Karyn, Arlana’s best friend. Karyn dropped out of cheer this year after football season ended. She said that all that pep was too much. Karyn hated Jillian and she refused to be led by her. Jillian used to be part of their friend clique but then she made cheer captain and she turned into a Nazi. Arlana was tempted to quit too but her sister, Clarissa, would be mad. It cost so much money to go to cheer camp last summer that if she dropped out now it would have been a waste.
“Aria! Focus! Karyn can wait!” Jillian hollered out.
Arlana looked at her watch. Practice was technically over and she was not having any fun today. Jillian was extremely bratty today and Arlana knew it was because Derek hadn’t asked her to the Prom. Derek had asked Arlana to go with him last night at Dwayne’s party. Derek is seriously hot and Arlana would be a fool to say “no” but she didn’t want to seem too eager and old friendship bonds still kept her from stepping into where Jillian wanted to be.
Arlana looked over at Karyn and smiled. “Jillian, sweetie, like practice was over five minutes ago, and like, you said we could end early today. You know, it isn’t like we ever leave early but like Clarissa wants me home on time today. So like, bye!” Arlana called out with a smile. She picked up her green and white pom poms and walked off the field.
“WE ARE NOT DONE YET ARIA!” Jillian called out.
“Whatever, Jillian, you are such a drag right now and I just don’t think I can cheer with you.” Arlana called back.
She grabbed Karyn with her free hand and pulled her towards the parking lot. “She is such a brat right now. What did like Derek still not ask her to the Prom?” Karyn asked.
“Um, like, no I don’t think he wants to ask her.” Arlana said hesitantly.
“Oh. My. Gosh! Did he ask you?! That is totally rad if he did. I mean like really, we all have crushed on him forever! You so deserve to go with him. Jillian is such a pill he was smart to choose you. We need to go dress shopping like now!” Karyn said excitedly her voice getting louder and louder.
“Karyn shhh, she’ll hear you! I didn’t like say yes to him so like no dress shopping today. Anyways I can’t go out today I have to be home. Clarissa wants me there for some unknown reason.”
“WHATEVER! THE HOTTEST GUY IN SCHOOL ASKED YOU TO THE PROM AND YOU LIKE SAID “NO?” ARE YOU CRAZY!” Karyn yelled at Arlana.
Thankfully they were at Arlana’s car, a cherry red 1967 mustang. It had been her father’s and Clarissa gave her the keys the moment she got her license.
They got in the car and Arlana started it up and pulled out of the high school’s parking lot waiting before she answered Karyn.
“I don’t know like I just, I just like feel wrong saying yes to him right away. I mean like Jillian was part of our group until recently you know.” Arlana said feeling upset by the whole situation
“Whatever! She doesn’t have a claim on him and like he asked you out so like why should she be upset with you? You can’t help that you are prettier than her. I mean like really no girl in this school can compete with those golden eyes!” Karyn said in what seemed like one breath.
Arlana kept her eyes on the road. She didn’t know what else to say. She wanted to change the topic. “So, like when is your car coming out of the shop? I don’t mind driving all the time but it would be way more convenient for you to drive us to and from school since you do live further away. “
“No idea. Dad has decided that it was my fault the accident happened. He said that I am not responsible enough for a car. I mean like why is he so mad. It wasn’t like I had been putting on my mascara when I got in the accident. I am really good at driving and putting on my makeup and spraying my hair. Oh by the way, I am so excited! Metallica’s new album just came out!!!! I can’t wait to get it!”
Arlana laughed. She had been friends with Karyn since she transferred from Wildrose elementary on the east side of town to Mayflower elementary. Her grandmother lived on Lime Avenue near Wildrose so she and Clarissa had attended. Their parents were archeologists and always away. Then Grandma died and her parents bought a house on Garfield over on the northwest side of town. Anyone who knows Monrovia knows about the street with the oak tree that grows in the middle of the road. That was Garfield. Arlana loves the sleepy little street. That move also was why she met Karyn.
Karyn lived in one of the towns historic Victorians said to have been built for the town’s founder’s daughter, Myrtle Monroe. Arlana found it to be creepy and it didn’t help that Karyn’s mom furnished it with gaudy antiques.
After she dropped off Karyn she went home. She usually went to the mall by the Santa Anita race track with Karyn after school and ate at Don Ricardo’s or would sneak into the stables at the track and pet the horses but today her sister expected her home right away. Clarissa asked very little of Arlana so she figured it was important.
“I’m home” she yelled when she got in the house. She had seen Clarissa’s gold Porsche outside so she knew she was home. Their parents had died three years prior. Clarissa was going to school at Stanford at the time but she came home to take care of Arlana. Thankfully their parents left them the house, and the two cars, all paid in full and then a little insurance money. They each had a trust fund from their grandmother but they were not able to access it until they were 25. Such a long time to wait. Clarissa got a job as a production assistant at Warner Brothers in Burbank and her income paid for the incidentals like food and clothes.
“I’m in the living room!” Clarissa shouted out.
Arlana went into the living room and sat down. Clarissa had MTV playing on the TV. At the moment A-ha’s “Take on Me” was playing. It had just come out the year prior and Arlana loved the video. She couldn’t wait to see what awesome music would come out this year. She just knew 1986 would be even better than last year.
“I have exciting news!” Clarissa said.
“Really, like what?” Arlana responded curiously.
“So, my boss is going out of the country for a year and he wanted me to go help him work on the movie he’ll be working on but when I told him I couldn’t because I had responsibilities here, he talked to the studio and they are going to have me work on a different film. Filming will take place partly in Alabama but also in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz filming will have a lot of extras so I asked if you could come with and be an extra with a few of your friends and they agreed to it!! We are headed to Santa Cruz during summer break!” Clarissa said in one breath.
“Shut up! Like are you serious? I have to call Karyn this is so totally rad! Thank you!!! You are the most amazing sister EVER!” Arlana said jumping up and down. She ran to the phone table and dialed Karyn’s number and told her everything.
“I spoke with Luke’s Mom and Karyn’s Mom. They are fine with it. I didn’t call Jillian’s Mom; I haven’t heard you talk about her lately so I figure you guys are still on the outs, right?”
“She is so NOT invited! Wait did you say Luke is coming? Are you feeling ok? You are letting a boy come with us?” Arlana said with a smirk.
“Luke is not a boy if I remember correctly from something you once said. Has that changed?” Clarissa said with a knowing smirk.
Arlana rolled her eyes “Whatever! He is not a boy; he is a very hunky guy I grew up with so he is more brother than anything else.”
Clarissa smiled and looked at Arlana, “Oh my dear sweet Aria, you fool no one but yourself.”
“So Gross. Besides, Derek asked me to the Prom. Which I wanted to ask you if it would be ok to say
yes. Like yes it is weird to ask you but I will need to buy a totally cute dress and I know we didn’t like budget for that.” Arlana said looking hopeful.
“Hmm, Derek is the quarterback, right? Hmm that seems like trouble. He is definitely hot for a kid but don’t you think he is rather full of himself? I mean good luck being able to use the mirror with him around.”
Arlana rolled her eyes, “Whatever! So can I go?”
Clarissa smiled, “I suppose but I want to meet this Derek kid.”
Arlana smiled. She hated it when Clarissa referred to her friends as kids but if doing so let her go to the Prom then she would accept it.
Arlana looked at Clarissa, “So, like, about that dress, do you think I could get something, like maybe tonight?”
“Aria, that's what these are for, emergencies,” Clarissa held out several credit cards she pulled from her wallet, “but hopefully there aren't many more or else you will need to find a part time job.”
“Oh, don't worry sis, I already have one, remember, I'm an extra! I still can't believe it, I'm so excited!”
Clarissa shook her head with a smile.
Arlana took one of the credit cards from Clarissa, “Can we go shopping tonight?”
“By we do you mean you and I or you and Karyn?”
“Karyn, if that's ok.”
“Well don't you think you should tell the boy yes first?”
“Oh, I almost forgot about that part. I'll give him a call.”
Clarissa gave Arlana another smile as she ran up the stairs, “Don't forget your homework!” Clarissa shouted after her.
Arlana started looking for Derek's number and got ready to grab her hot pink sparkly phone when it started ringing.
She picked up, “Hello.”
“Hello Aria?” Derek breathed out on the other end going for his most macho voice.
“Derek?”
“Yea, it's me, none other than the best.”
“Very funny Derek.”
“I'm not trying to be funny, I'm totally serious. I was just calling to see if you were ready to say yes yet. Did you have to ask permission or something? I thought you'd have a little more freedom being your parents aren't around and all, no offense.”
Arlana cringed at his words. “Are you trying to be a jerk or are you just so full of yourself that you don't consider other people's feelings?”
“Ouch, what's that all about? I just want the most beautiful lady at school to be with me at the Prom, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.”
“You know Derek, I don't think I can come with you to the Prom, you could ask Jillian though, I'm sure you two would make a great couple. Bye.”
Arlana hung up the phone. She almost couldn't believe what she had just done, she felt so sure he was the coolest, hottest guy but then he spoke, and it ruined everything. Even though her parents weren't around a lot growing up, she still loved them and it still stung knowing they were gone. The only family that she had left was her sister and an uncle that lived somewhere in Alaska that she barely even knew.
She picked up the phone again and this time called Karyn. She told her all about her conversation with Derek and how she was feeling.
“Don't feel bad Aria, I think what you did was brave. You shouldn't go to the Prom with someone who cares only for himself; the only type of person who could be happy with him is someone who has no self esteem.”
“Maybe he'll be different when he matures,” Arlana muttered, feeling a little bad for practically hanging up on him. “Well I guess the worst thing that has happened is that I have ruined a perfectly good shopping opportunity.”
Karyn laughed. “Well, maybe not, we could still look for an outfit that we could wear on our trip to Santa Cruz, something totally far out! We are going to have so much fun, I can't believe it!”
Both girls squealed into the phone in excitement. “Your right, I'll ask my sister if it's ok. Let's meet at the mall.”
Arlana sat in the food court sipping an Orange Julius and waiting for Karyn. Jillian walked up to her with her two best followers on either side of her. Jillian had a huge smile across her face and multiple shopping bags in tow. She sat one of the bags on the table that Arlana was at. Arlana looked up and forced a smile waiting for Jillian to tell her off about leaving practice before it was officially over.
“Hi Aria, how's it goin’?”
“Good, how about you guys?”
“Since you asked, everything is like totally awesome for me right now. Derek like totally asked me to the Prom and we're going together and it is going to be amazing! I've already bought like five dresses because I can't decide which one looks best on me, right girls?” She looked to Heather and Megan, they nodded.
“Yes, we couldn't decide, she looked great in everything!” Heather gushed.
Megan added, “Derek is so gonna die when he sees you.”
“Oh, I know. I am so happy I've almost forgotten to be mad at you for leaving early today, almost but not quite. I was going to have you do ten extra laps tomorrow, but I may be satisfied with five.” Jillian smirked.
Arlana tried to hold the smile but felt the edges of her lips quirking down. Get here already Karyn she thought in her mind.
“Oh, look what the cat dragged in, it's Karyn and Luke, aren't they so cute together, a perfect pair of losers,” Jillian whispered under her breath.
“Well, if it isn't Jillian and her minions,” Karyn called out loudly as she approached.
“Whatever Karyn, we have more shopping to do. Later Aria.” Jillian and her crew strode off further into the mall.
“Luke, I didn't know you were coming, what a great surprise!” Arlana gave Luke and Karyn a hug in greeting. “Thank you for saving me from Jillian, I didn't know how much more I could take!”
“Seriously Aria, I don't know how you put up with her at all.” Karyn stated bluntly.
“How's it going beautiful?” Luke stepped closer to Arlana ruffling her hair with his hand.
“Not the hair Luke, anything but the hair.”
Luke laughed. He looked Arlana up and down with his deep blue eyes, his dark brown hair made his eyes stand out even more. Luke had been friends with her and Karyn for as long as she could remember.
“So I heard you turned Derek down for the Prom?” Luke stated with a question in his tone.
“You did, how did you hear that?” Arlana looked pointedly at Karyn and gave her a slight shove.
“What, we're all best friends, he needed to know too.”
“Fair enough, but let's not spread it through the grapevine anymore.”
“Well, if I'd have known you needed a date to the Prom you know I would be first on the list to ask you. I was kind of under the impression that you wanted to go with Derek though.”
“What gave you that impression?”
“Oh, I don't know, maybe just the way you guys giggle and make so many comments about how hot he is whenever you see him.”
Arlana looked up at him and felt her cheeks start to heat, why was she blushing she wondered, it's just Luke.
“That's a great idea; Luke could take both of us!” Karyn jumped up and down.
“Well, yea, I guess I could take you,” Luke looked up at Arlana and it almost appeared he was blushing too, “I mean take you both,” his eyes darted to Karyn.
“Gee, I don't know, I mean that's really nice, and I would love to go with you guys, but this whole situation with Derek, it's just put a sour taste in my mouth about the whole thing.”
“Ah, come on, at least think about it,” Karyn said, “we could hit some of the thrift stores and I bet we could find dresses for the Prom and a couple of outfits for our trip and spend less than we would at the mall. That includes you too Luke, I mean not the dresses, but some cool outfits for our trip.”
“Uh yea, I kind of got that part,” Luke nodded in excitement; Karyn's enthusiasm was beginning to rub off on Luke.
“Well, ok I'll think about it. Let's go to the thrift stores anyway a
nd see what we can find, I definitely don't want to run into Jillian again anyways.”
“Whose car do you want to ride in?” Arlana asked.
Luke said he'd drive and pulled out the keys to his Thunderbird.
“Go. Go Wildcats, Go!”
“Go. Go Wildcats, Go!”
“Aria! Smile please!” Called out Jillian, the cheer captain.
Arlana looked over at Jillian and widened her smile as much as she could. Jillian was notorious for using Vaseline to get the freshmen girls smiling and Arlana was not about to have that happen. That would be so embarrassing, a junior with Vaseline on her gums to keep her smile big.
“Aria, are you guys done yet?” called out Karyn, Arlana’s best friend. Karyn dropped out of cheer this year after football season ended. She said that all that pep was too much. Karyn hated Jillian and she refused to be led by her. Jillian used to be part of their friend clique but then she made cheer captain and she turned into a Nazi. Arlana was tempted to quit too but her sister, Clarissa, would be mad. It cost so much money to go to cheer camp last summer that if she dropped out now it would have been a waste.
“Aria! Focus! Karyn can wait!” Jillian hollered out.
Arlana looked at her watch. Practice was technically over and she was not having any fun today. Jillian was extremely bratty today and Arlana knew it was because Derek hadn’t asked her to the Prom. Derek had asked Arlana to go with him last night at Dwayne’s party. Derek is seriously hot and Arlana would be a fool to say “no” but she didn’t want to seem too eager and old friendship bonds still kept her from stepping into where Jillian wanted to be.
Arlana looked over at Karyn and smiled. “Jillian, sweetie, like practice was over five minutes ago, and like, you said we could end early today. You know, it isn’t like we ever leave early but like Clarissa wants me home on time today. So like, bye!” Arlana called out with a smile. She picked up her green and white pom poms and walked off the field.
“WE ARE NOT DONE YET ARIA!” Jillian called out.
“Whatever, Jillian, you are such a drag right now and I just don’t think I can cheer with you.” Arlana called back.
She grabbed Karyn with her free hand and pulled her towards the parking lot. “She is such a brat right now. What did like Derek still not ask her to the Prom?” Karyn asked.
“Um, like, no I don’t think he wants to ask her.” Arlana said hesitantly.
“Oh. My. Gosh! Did he ask you?! That is totally rad if he did. I mean like really, we all have crushed on him forever! You so deserve to go with him. Jillian is such a pill he was smart to choose you. We need to go dress shopping like now!” Karyn said excitedly her voice getting louder and louder.
“Karyn shhh, she’ll hear you! I didn’t like say yes to him so like no dress shopping today. Anyways I can’t go out today I have to be home. Clarissa wants me there for some unknown reason.”
“WHATEVER! THE HOTTEST GUY IN SCHOOL ASKED YOU TO THE PROM AND YOU LIKE SAID “NO?” ARE YOU CRAZY!” Karyn yelled at Arlana.
Thankfully they were at Arlana’s car, a cherry red 1967 mustang. It had been her father’s and Clarissa gave her the keys the moment she got her license.
They got in the car and Arlana started it up and pulled out of the high school’s parking lot waiting before she answered Karyn.
“I don’t know like I just, I just like feel wrong saying yes to him right away. I mean like Jillian was part of our group until recently you know.” Arlana said feeling upset by the whole situation
“Whatever! She doesn’t have a claim on him and like he asked you out so like why should she be upset with you? You can’t help that you are prettier than her. I mean like really no girl in this school can compete with those golden eyes!” Karyn said in what seemed like one breath.
Arlana kept her eyes on the road. She didn’t know what else to say. She wanted to change the topic. “So, like when is your car coming out of the shop? I don’t mind driving all the time but it would be way more convenient for you to drive us to and from school since you do live further away. “
“No idea. Dad has decided that it was my fault the accident happened. He said that I am not responsible enough for a car. I mean like why is he so mad. It wasn’t like I had been putting on my mascara when I got in the accident. I am really good at driving and putting on my makeup and spraying my hair. Oh by the way, I am so excited! Metallica’s new album just came out!!!! I can’t wait to get it!”
Arlana laughed. She had been friends with Karyn since she transferred from Wildrose elementary on the east side of town to Mayflower elementary. Her grandmother lived on Lime Avenue near Wildrose so she and Clarissa had attended. Their parents were archeologists and always away. Then Grandma died and her parents bought a house on Garfield over on the northwest side of town. Anyone who knows Monrovia knows about the street with the oak tree that grows in the middle of the road. That was Garfield. Arlana loves the sleepy little street. That move also was why she met Karyn.
Karyn lived in one of the towns historic Victorians said to have been built for the town’s founder’s daughter, Myrtle Monroe. Arlana found it to be creepy and it didn’t help that Karyn’s mom furnished it with gaudy antiques.
After she dropped off Karyn she went home. She usually went to the mall by the Santa Anita race track with Karyn after school and ate at Don Ricardo’s or would sneak into the stables at the track and pet the horses but today her sister expected her home right away. Clarissa asked very little of Arlana so she figured it was important.
“I’m home” she yelled when she got in the house. She had seen Clarissa’s gold Porsche outside so she knew she was home. Their parents had died three years prior. Clarissa was going to school at Stanford at the time but she came home to take care of Arlana. Thankfully their parents left them the house, and the two cars, all paid in full and then a little insurance money. They each had a trust fund from their grandmother but they were not able to access it until they were 25. Such a long time to wait. Clarissa got a job as a production assistant at Warner Brothers in Burbank and her income paid for the incidentals like food and clothes.
“I’m in the living room!” Clarissa shouted out.
Arlana went into the living room and sat down. Clarissa had MTV playing on the TV. At the moment A-ha’s “Take on Me” was playing. It had just come out the year prior and Arlana loved the video. She couldn’t wait to see what awesome music would come out this year. She just knew 1986 would be even better than last year.
“I have exciting news!” Clarissa said.
“Really, like what?” Arlana responded curiously.
“So, my boss is going out of the country for a year and he wanted me to go help him work on the movie he’ll be working on but when I told him I couldn’t because I had responsibilities here, he talked to the studio and they are going to have me work on a different film. Filming will take place partly in Alabama but also in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz filming will have a lot of extras so I asked if you could come with and be an extra with a few of your friends and they agreed to it!! We are headed to Santa Cruz during summer break!” Clarissa said in one breath.
“Shut up! Like are you serious? I have to call Karyn this is so totally rad! Thank you!!! You are the most amazing sister EVER!” Arlana said jumping up and down. She ran to the phone table and dialed Karyn’s number and told her everything.
“I spoke with Luke’s Mom and Karyn’s Mom. They are fine with it. I didn’t call Jillian’s Mom; I haven’t heard you talk about her lately so I figure you guys are still on the outs, right?”
“She is so NOT invited! Wait did you say Luke is coming? Are you feeling ok? You are letting a boy come with us?” Arlana said with a smirk.
“Luke is not a boy if I remember correctly from something you once said. Has that changed?” Clarissa said with a knowing smirk.
Arlana rolled her eyes “Whatever! He is not a boy; he is a very hunky guy I grew up with so he is more brother than anything else.”
Clarissa smiled and looked at Arlana, “Oh my dear sweet Aria, you fool no one but yourself.”
“So Gross. Besides, Derek asked me to the Prom. Which I wanted to ask you if it would be ok to say
“Hmm, Derek is the quarterback, right? Hmm that seems like trouble. He is definitely hot for a kid but don’t you think he is rather full of himself? I mean good luck being able to use the mirror with him around.”
Arlana rolled her eyes, “Whatever! So can I go?”
Clarissa smiled, “I suppose but I want to meet this Derek kid.”
Arlana smiled. She hated it when Clarissa referred to her friends as kids but if doing so let her go to the Prom then she would accept it.
Arlana looked at Clarissa, “So, like, about that dress, do you think I could get something, like maybe tonight?”
“Aria, that's what these are for, emergencies,” Clarissa held out several credit cards she pulled from her wallet, “but hopefully there aren't many more or else you will need to find a part time job.”
“Oh, don't worry sis, I already have one, remember, I'm an extra! I still can't believe it, I'm so excited!”
Clarissa shook her head with a smile.
Arlana took one of the credit cards from Clarissa, “Can we go shopping tonight?”
“By we do you mean you and I or you and Karyn?”
“Karyn, if that's ok.”
“Well don't you think you should tell the boy yes first?”
“Oh, I almost forgot about that part. I'll give him a call.”
Clarissa gave Arlana another smile as she ran up the stairs, “Don't forget your homework!” Clarissa shouted after her.
Arlana started looking for Derek's number and got ready to grab her hot pink sparkly phone when it started ringing.
She picked up, “Hello.”
“Hello Aria?” Derek breathed out on the other end going for his most macho voice.
“Derek?”
“Yea, it's me, none other than the best.”
“Very funny Derek.”
“I'm not trying to be funny, I'm totally serious. I was just calling to see if you were ready to say yes yet. Did you have to ask permission or something? I thought you'd have a little more freedom being your parents aren't around and all, no offense.”
Arlana cringed at his words. “Are you trying to be a jerk or are you just so full of yourself that you don't consider other people's feelings?”
“Ouch, what's that all about? I just want the most beautiful lady at school to be with me at the Prom, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.”
“You know Derek, I don't think I can come with you to the Prom, you could ask Jillian though, I'm sure you two would make a great couple. Bye.”
Arlana hung up the phone. She almost couldn't believe what she had just done, she felt so sure he was the coolest, hottest guy but then he spoke, and it ruined everything. Even though her parents weren't around a lot growing up, she still loved them and it still stung knowing they were gone. The only family that she had left was her sister and an uncle that lived somewhere in Alaska that she barely even knew.
She picked up the phone again and this time called Karyn. She told her all about her conversation with Derek and how she was feeling.
“Don't feel bad Aria, I think what you did was brave. You shouldn't go to the Prom with someone who cares only for himself; the only type of person who could be happy with him is someone who has no self esteem.”
“Maybe he'll be different when he matures,” Arlana muttered, feeling a little bad for practically hanging up on him. “Well I guess the worst thing that has happened is that I have ruined a perfectly good shopping opportunity.”
Karyn laughed. “Well, maybe not, we could still look for an outfit that we could wear on our trip to Santa Cruz, something totally far out! We are going to have so much fun, I can't believe it!”
Both girls squealed into the phone in excitement. “Your right, I'll ask my sister if it's ok. Let's meet at the mall.”
Arlana sat in the food court sipping an Orange Julius and waiting for Karyn. Jillian walked up to her with her two best followers on either side of her. Jillian had a huge smile across her face and multiple shopping bags in tow. She sat one of the bags on the table that Arlana was at. Arlana looked up and forced a smile waiting for Jillian to tell her off about leaving practice before it was officially over.
“Hi Aria, how's it goin’?”
“Good, how about you guys?”
“Since you asked, everything is like totally awesome for me right now. Derek like totally asked me to the Prom and we're going together and it is going to be amazing! I've already bought like five dresses because I can't decide which one looks best on me, right girls?” She looked to Heather and Megan, they nodded.
“Yes, we couldn't decide, she looked great in everything!” Heather gushed.
Megan added, “Derek is so gonna die when he sees you.”
“Oh, I know. I am so happy I've almost forgotten to be mad at you for leaving early today, almost but not quite. I was going to have you do ten extra laps tomorrow, but I may be satisfied with five.” Jillian smirked.
Arlana tried to hold the smile but felt the edges of her lips quirking down. Get here already Karyn she thought in her mind.
“Oh, look what the cat dragged in, it's Karyn and Luke, aren't they so cute together, a perfect pair of losers,” Jillian whispered under her breath.
“Well, if it isn't Jillian and her minions,” Karyn called out loudly as she approached.
“Whatever Karyn, we have more shopping to do. Later Aria.” Jillian and her crew strode off further into the mall.
“Luke, I didn't know you were coming, what a great surprise!” Arlana gave Luke and Karyn a hug in greeting. “Thank you for saving me from Jillian, I didn't know how much more I could take!”
“Seriously Aria, I don't know how you put up with her at all.” Karyn stated bluntly.
“How's it going beautiful?” Luke stepped closer to Arlana ruffling her hair with his hand.
“Not the hair Luke, anything but the hair.”
Luke laughed. He looked Arlana up and down with his deep blue eyes, his dark brown hair made his eyes stand out even more. Luke had been friends with her and Karyn for as long as she could remember.
“So I heard you turned Derek down for the Prom?” Luke stated with a question in his tone.
“You did, how did you hear that?” Arlana looked pointedly at Karyn and gave her a slight shove.
“What, we're all best friends, he needed to know too.”
“Fair enough, but let's not spread it through the grapevine anymore.”
“Well, if I'd have known you needed a date to the Prom you know I would be first on the list to ask you. I was kind of under the impression that you wanted to go with Derek though.”
“What gave you that impression?”
“Oh, I don't know, maybe just the way you guys giggle and make so many comments about how hot he is whenever you see him.”
Arlana looked up at him and felt her cheeks start to heat, why was she blushing she wondered, it's just Luke.
“That's a great idea; Luke could take both of us!” Karyn jumped up and down.
“Well, yea, I guess I could take you,” Luke looked up at Arlana and it almost appeared he was blushing too, “I mean take you both,” his eyes darted to Karyn.
“Gee, I don't know, I mean that's really nice, and I would love to go with you guys, but this whole situation with Derek, it's just put a sour taste in my mouth about the whole thing.”
“Ah, come on, at least think about it,” Karyn said, “we could hit some of the thrift stores and I bet we could find dresses for the Prom and a couple of outfits for our trip and spend less than we would at the mall. That includes you too Luke, I mean not the dresses, but some cool outfits for our trip.”
“Uh yea, I kind of got that part,” Luke nodded in excitement; Karyn's enthusiasm was beginning to rub off on Luke.
“Well, ok I'll think about it. Let's go to the thrift stores anyway a
“Whose car do you want to ride in?” Arlana asked.
Luke said he'd drive and pulled out the keys to his Thunderbird.