The Devil's Pawn

Before I knew it, the countdown until Prom had dropped from days to hours. As the excitement filled the hallway of the senior wing, I could help but find myself growing more and more anxious for the evening.

I still had yet to ask my mother. Erica had been pressuring me to fabricate another lie
instead of asking honestly. I had doubts that that would help me in my situation to earn her
respect again. Still, I wasn’t entirely sure how I was going about this situation. Time was
against me in this.

In the gymnasium, the score board was counting down the time until Prom night. It had
been rumored that once the clock hit zero, there would be something sick and rotten
dropped from the ceilings from the sophomores.

I highly doubted that. It had been a rumor that had been going around since I was a
freshman in the high school.

Nonetheless, with forty-eight hours to go, everyone was getting a little bit antsy as the
seconds ticked away.

Erica was in the process of explaining just how much trouble she was going to for this
evening with hopes that Fits would say something. He hadn’t asked her to prom, nor had he
asked anyone else. Erica explained that it was in his nature, but I wasn’t completely sure
about that.

“…at the salon down the mall. It’s going to cost quite a pretty penny, but the stylist there,
Lucas, is absolutely phenomenal.” She explained, leaning against the locker next to mine.
“He did my hair for the senior pictures. It looked so sexy.”

“I can’t wait to see it Saturday,” I mumbled, digging through the books in my locker. Truth
be told, I was more concerned with myself getting there than I actually was with Erica and
her hair.

“I could see if he could squeeze you in as well before hand. I have connections there. Of
course, it’d be pretty costly. But if you have the dough…” She explained her nails casually.
She looked up at me from under her eyelashes.

I bit my lip, shaking my head, “I appreciate the offer, Erica, but I don’t think that I’d have
time to. Even if my mother let me go.”

Erica had doubts that anything would work for me. She was already prepared to plan a
kidnap of me just for the evening.

She was as determined to get me there as Trenton was to take my virginity that night. It
was a disturbing thought.

I hadn’t seen much of Trenton, and had had absolutely no alone time with him. He
hadn’t commented his fantasy from earlier, but I hadn’t been one to question it. I couldn’t
deny the feelings he drove through me at his simple words.

I closed my locker, slinging my bag over my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Taylor, your ass is going to be here.” She promised.

“Are they even selling tickets still?”

Erica blinked, surprise flooding her face, “You never bought tickets?!”

I hesitantly shook my head.

She groaned, slapping my arm. “I can’t believe you! Taylor, it’s two days before and now
you decide to ask about tickets?”

I smiled weakly, “Sorry?”

“You’re lucky I’m not an idiot.”

“What do you mean?”

“Trenton’s already bought your ticket for you. So now you must go.” She smiled proudly,
“I was the one to get him to.”

“What if I had already purchased a ticket?” I frowned slightly.

“I know you well enough. You would’ve asked someone about tickets before hand and
almost all of us know you’re going with Trenton.”

“So what does that have to do with anything?” I asked, getting defensive. My face lit up
from embarrassment.

She rolled her eyes, ignoring my question. “Just relax. Trenton’s got your ticket. You
wouldn’t want to make him waste that money, now would you? These tickets aren’t very
cheap, you do know that.”

“I know they’re not cheap, which is why I would have preferred to pay for my own ticket.” I
mumbled.

“He’s your date. He’s got this covered.”

I sighed, realizing that arguing with her was useless. Erica had her own opinion and
nothing that I said was ever going to change that.

I decided to change the subject around to her to prevent myself from further
embarrassment from her.

“Are you and Fits doing anything special afterwards?”

She smiled secretly, biting her bottom lip, “I don’t know. I hope so. He hasn’t said
anything, but I have a feeling…”

I giggled, “Oh, Erica!”

“Shut up, Prude.” She teased, “It’s not like this will be the first time for us. I’m just hoping
that it’s going to be a little bit more… special because of the circumstances.”

“Because it’s prom night?”

“Not just that….” She sighed, shaking her head, “There’s something about getting all
dressed up for it.”

I nodded.

“I just hope I’m not getting my hopes up for nothing. I’ll be pissed if it turns out he’s
screwing another girl.” There was malice in her voice which sounded too harsh for Erica. I
cringed slightly. She stared at the wall for a moment before shaking her head and turning
away.

“I’m sure that’s not actually happening. You’re just getting paranoid like the rest of the
female population.”

“I sure as hell hope so.”

I smiled encouragingly, “Just relax.”

We made our way down the hallway towards the cafeteria. Erica moved the topic back
around her preparation from Prom night, and I found myself tuning in and out. She didn’t
seem to notice or care if she had.

I dropped my bag off at the table, surprised to see all three guys already sitting there. It
wasn’t normal for me and Erica to have beaten the boys to the table for lunch. A tray of food
sat in front of all of them.

“Hello ladies.” Tanner smiled up gently.

I raised an eyebrow suspiciously, “How did you three get here so early?”

Trenton and Fits chuckled while Tanner only smirked, answering for the three of them,
“It’s a secret.”

Erica nodded carefully, “Uh…huh. Alright, well, we’re going to go grab a bite to eat so…
don’t do anything stupid.”

I giggled as we walked away, heading towards where the lines extended. It was silent
between us as we both pondered over why the three were there before us. The sinister
looks they shared left a chill down my bones, but I tried to ignore it.

I grabbed a pizza, paying before Erica had finished grabbing her food. I waited for her
just behind the cash register. My eyes followed her as she completely ignored the lunch
ladies at the registers, walking straight past it.

I opened my mouth to object when she grabbed my elbow, pulling me along.

“Close your mouth, Taylor, or a bug will fly in.” She said in a smooth tone of voice,
keeping her face neutral.

I obeyed until we had gotten a decent distance from the register.

“Did you just steal your lunch?” I asked hesitantly.

She nodded, “I’m broke. I need food. The school over charges for this shit anyway. One
person isn’t going to make the distance.”

“But…”

“Relax, Taylor, and live a little.”

A sigh left my lips as we returned to the table. I knew that if I ever tried something like
that I would be caught on my first try.

There was talent in getting away with stealing.

I took a seat next to Trenton, our legs brushed up against each other. He had already
finished a decent portion of his lunch, dedicating the rest of it to Fits’ face.

I made a face, taking a bite of my pizza.

“Can’t you too be mature for once?” Erica snapped angrily.

The throwing of the food stopped temporarily.

“Sorry,” Fits smiled apologetically, kissing the side of Erica’s face. She seemed at a
loss for words from that. He knew the affect that he had on her had been successful in
silencing her and hurled another piece of taco at Trenton.

I grabbed Trenton’s wrist before he was able to throw his piece, “Really guys, can we
not throw food?”

Trenton pouted, moving to kiss my cheek, “I’m sorry, Sweet Cheeks.” His lips were
slobbery wet against my skin.

I made a face at him, dramatically wiping away his germs.

Trenton rolled his eyes, turning back to face the three across from us. He left his hand
on my thigh underneath the table where no one would see.

“Are you guys getting the prom-fever yet?” Tanner asked, sounding mockingly excited.
He made a face at the end, releasing his real feelings on prom.

Fits smirked next to him, looking smug, “I’m ready for this.”

Erica and I exchanged a look.

Trenton leaned down next to my ear. His lips brushed gently as he whispered, “Are you
ready for this, Taylor?”

I bit my lip, staring straight ahead.

He moved his hand smoothly up my leg, teasing.

I nodded curtly, moving my hand over top of his, “Behave, Trenton.”

Trenton chuckled, leaning back in his chair. He draped his arm across the back of mine,
messing with the strands of my hair loosely.

“Tanner, do you have a date this year?” Erica asked, sounding as if she were trying to
make conversation.

He shrugged, smirking slightly, “I might.”

I cringed slightly, knowing exactly who it might be.

Trenton rubbed my shoulder softly.

“Your hand doesn’t count, Tanner.” Fits joked, taking a bite of pizza.

Tanner shoved him, “Shut up, Fits. You’re going to be so jealous when you see how hot
she is dude.”

Fits rolled his eyes.

“Come on.” Trenton murmured in my ear, standing up. I followed his lead, giving him a
curious look as we grabbed our trays, moving towards the trash cans.

He ignored the three eyes following us as we walked away. I glanced back over my
shoulder once, sending Erica a sympathetic look.

“Where are we going?”

He shrugged, dumping his tray.

“Figured you didn’t want to hear them talk about Sam.”

I smiled to myself.

Trenton led the way out of the cafeteria into the empty hallway. I grabbed his hand,
interlacing our fingers as we walked. Our footsteps were loud in the quiet hall. For a few
minutes, neither of us spoke.

“I uh… I bought your ticket for prom.” He said, stuttering slightly. I raised an eyebrow in
surprise at how unsure he sounded.

“Thank you.”

While I knew he had, I was still sincere.

“I can pay you back…” I trailed off.

He smirked, “You can pay me back that night.” He pulled his hand out of mine to slap
my butt playfully.

My face lit up in embarrassment as I grabbed his hand once more, holding it tightly.
Trenton chuckled to himself.

“You know what I mean.”

“And you know what I mean too.”

I shot him a look.

Trenton leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips. “I’m kidding, Sweet Cheeks. You’re
not paying me back.”

“Thanks again.”

He shrugged, “No big deal.”

We walked in silence for a few minutes. I glanced into the rooms that we passed as we
walked by. Kids were lined in the rows of desks, a bored face on a vast majority of them.

“Aren’t we going to get caught?”

“Probably.”

“Should we head back to the cafeteria?”

He shook his head, “Nah, do you want to sit there while they bitch about Sam to your
face, Taylor?”

“Well they don’t know…”

“Do you want to go tell them?”
I shot him a hard look.

Trenton glanced around before pushing me up against the lockers. He gripped my
sides tightly, resting his forehead against mine.

“Is that a yes?”

“You know very well it’s a no.”

He smirked slightly. “I’d love to see Tanner’s face when you explained your bisexual
lover to him.”

“Shut up.”

“I think that it’s kinky.” He winked, squeezing my sides playfully.

“Trenton!”

He chuckled, “Want to make out?”

“Right here?”

He nodded.

“Where anyone could walk in on us?”

“It’s risky.”

“No!” I pulled out of his grip, heading back towards the cafeteria. Trenton laughed,
wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me back.

“Damn, I thought you might.”

“I’m not a whore.”

“I could make you one.”

“Trenton!”

He laughed. “You’re cute.”

“Let’s go back to the cafeteria. I’m sure Erica misses us.”

He rolled his eyes, but nonetheless allowed me to lead him back.

I stopped him right before the doorway, resting a hand gently on his chest. He gave me
a curious look as I bit my lip, looking up softly.

“I can’t wait for Prom night.”