“I’m not punching you. I was kidding. But Iampissed at you for taking my phone.”
“I need to get over there,” she says, motioning to the student section. “I told the girls I’d be there ten minutes ago.”
“What girls? Who are you sitting with?”
“The cheerleaders. Alyssa and I aren’t cheering tonight so I’m sitting with her.”
“You’re a cheerleader?”
“Obviously,” she says dramatically. “Can’t you tell by my spunk and bubbly personality?” She laughs. “That’s what our coach said about me when she picked me. I don’t even know what spunk means.”
Sitting with the cheerleaders will definitely help my social status, which I need after today’s incident with Kristen. And there’s a chance I could get more dirt from Peyton tonight. The more she talks, the more I learn.
“I guess I could sit with you guys.” I get up just as Brock is coming back.
“Going somewhere?” he asks.
“I’m gonna go sit with Peyton, if that’s okay.”
He smiles. “Of course. Go ahead. We’ll meet up at the car later.”
“I can give her a ride home,” Peyton says, batting her eyes at him.
“Thank you, but Rumor will be coming home with me. She’s grounded until I decide otherwise.”
“Grounded?” I say, putting my hands on my hips. “You never told me I was grounded!”
“I’m telling you now. You didn’t think I’d just let you get away with punching someone, did you?”
“How many times have you grounded your sons after a fight?” I spit out, furious with him.
“Rumor, we are not discussing this now.”
“None! That’s the answer, right? None? Because boys are different. They can do whatever they want and just get away with it.”
“Let’s go,” Peyton says, pulling me away from Brock. He’s ignoring me anyway, texting someone on his phone.
“Bastard,” I mutter as we walk to the student section. “He makes separate rules for me because I’m a girl.”
“You gotta just play along,” Peyton says. “The more you go along with it, the more you get away with. Trust me. I’ve been doing this forever.”
“Doing what?”
“Pretending to be the perfect daughter while I go behind their backs and do whatever I want. Parents will believe anything if you smile and say what they want to hear.”
She goes up a row of bleachers to where Alyssa is sitting. I met Alyssa at lunch, but haven’t talked to her much. I don’t thinkshe likes me. I think she sees me as competition for the football players. They all flirt with me, including Kade, her ex. I ignore his flirting, especially when she’s around, but she still gives me dirty looks.
“Miss me?” Peyton says, sitting beside Alyssa.
“What took you so long?” Alyssa eyes me as I sit down.
“Had to put on a show for the parents. Then I saw Brock and got distracted.” She grins. “God, he’s hot.”
“Seriously, Peyton, you gotta get over your obsession with old men. It’s disgusting.” Alyssa glances at me. “No offense. Your uncle’s hot for an old guy.”
“Yeah, I get it. No offense taken.”
“I told her Braden’s the next best thing,” Peyton says, her eyes finding him on the field.
