The Pick Read online

  After they had taken pictures, their group headed for the dance floor. Tyson was excited to dance the night away with Ally. It had been a long time since he had actually enjoyed a dance as much as he was enjoying this one with Ally.

  “Hey Ally, do you want to go on a little trip to the ladies’ room with me?” Brooke asked in between songs.

  “Sure,” Ally responded to Brooke. Then she turned to Tyson, “We are going to run to the bathroom.”

  “Make it quick. I need my dancing partner back before the next song,” Tyson winked as the next song started.

  Ally laughed, “I’ll be back in a jiffy.” Then she headed off with Brooke.

  As they squeezed through the crowd waiting to get a drink, Ally was caught off guard as punch splashed all over the front of her dress. She glanced up to see Jenna.

  Jenna exclaimed, “Oh my, I’m so sorry. I tripped and I’m so sorry. Here let me help you.” Jenna grabbed a wad of napkins.

  As she tried to soak up some of the punch from Ally’s dress, Jenna whispered, “I promise, you don’t want to mess with me. Tyson is mine.”

  Ally was speechless. She could hear Jenna’s friends starting to giggle and whisper. Everyone was watching. Her dress. It was going to be stained for the rest of the night or for forever. Jenna continued to smile at her and make her dress even worse by streaking the punch all over it. It seemed like an eternity. Why couldn’t she say anything or move?

  “Hey man, do you want to go get a drink? This dancing is making me thirsty,” Tyson’s friend, Alex, asked after the girls had left.

  “Sounds good.”

  Tyson and Alex followed the same path Ally and Brooke had taken as they squeezed their way through the crowd to the punch bowl, which was located near the bathrooms. They reached the table just in time to see Jenna “trip” and spill punch all over Ally.

  “No,” Tyson groaned as he pushed his way through the crowd that had gathered to watch the event unfold.

  “Ally, are you okay?” Tyson asked as he gently turned Ally to face him, pushing Jenna out of the way.

  “Umm… ya,” Ally whispered with a fake smile.

  “All Homecoming royalty nominees please report to the grand staircase immediately. All Homecoming royalty report to the grand staircase,” boomed over the speaker system.

  Jenna quickly linked her arm through Tyson’s and said with a squeal, “It’s time to be crowned royalty.” She practically pulled Tyson away as he looked back to see Ally’s eyes full of sadness and a forced smiled on her face as Tyson disappeared in the crowd.

  Luckily, the crowd stopped paying attention to Ally after a Jenna and Tyson left. Ally could tell that she was close to tears so she hurried into the bathroom. After closing the stall door, she took some deep breaths to gain her composure. What was Jenna’s problem? It’s not like Ally was seriously dating Tyson. They were friends, for goodness sakes!

  Ally did want to watch Tyson be crowned Homecoming King. She took one last breath and exited the stall. As she passed the mirror, she noticed all the little white flakes from the napkins and the lovely stain of punch down the front of her dress. She sighed. Suddenly, a girl’s reflection appeared in the mirror. It was a quiet girl from her English class. Ally didn’t even know her name.

  “She’s just jealous.”

  “What?” Ally questioned.

  “Jenna. She is just jealous that Tyson only has eyes for you now.”

  “What?” Ally almost laughed. “Tyson and I are just friends.”

  “I saw the way that he looked at you. I haven’t ever seen him look that way at anyone else he has dated, and believe me, I’ve paid attention.”

  “Ya, every girl in this school wishes Tyson would look at them the way he looks at you,” another girl in the bathroom cooed. “He definitely likes you.” Ally couldn’t help but smile.

  “See,” the girl from Ally’s English class stated. Soon Ally was enveloped in a hug by these two girls she didn’t even know.

  “Thank you,” Ally said.

  “Now get out there and show Jenna that she can’t get to you,” the English Class girl said as all three of them walked out the bathroom door.

  “Gather round as the Homecoming King and Queen share this next dance together,” the DJ summoned.

  Ally squeezed into the crowd with her new-found friends, Cassidy and Jamie, and their dates as they watched Tyson and Jenna sway to the music. As Ally stood there watching the two dance, she couldn’t help but feel her newfound self-confidence start to fade.

  Jenna and Tyson really did look like a perfect couple. Jenna was gorgeous. Many guys would do anything to get an opportunity go on a date with her. Maybe Tyson was just being nice to Ally. Maybe she really was just his last option for a date to the dance. But those thoughts flew out the window when Tyson and Ally made eye contact. Ally smiled and waved from afar. Tyson’s smile grew a whole mile as he winked at her and Ally felt herself falling for him even more.

  The second that the dance ended, Tyson quickly made his way over to Ally to make sure that she was okay. The spot on Ally’s dress didn’t matter anymore. She was going to enjoy the night. And that they did.

  The Homecoming dance wasn’t even over yet and Kylie had already seen the video. Jenna “accidentally” tripping as punch went flying all over Ally and her dress. She wished she could have been at the dance to put Jenna in her place. Ally might be too nice to start a fight right then and there. But Kylie would have let Jenna have it. Ally didn’t do anything to deserve the way that Jenna was treating her.

  Kylie worried about Ally. She immediately sent a text to Ally asking her if she was okay. But Kylie knew that Ally had left her phone at home, since Tyson would have his. Kylie would have to wait until late tonight to find out.

  At 1:30 a.m. Kylie woke up with a start when she realized that her room was pitch black and the menu screen from the movie she had been watching was replaying over and over again. She quickly grabbed her phone to see if Ally had responded.

  “I was a little upset at first. I’m pretty sure my dress is ruined. But I think Jenna’s just mad that Tyson broke up with her and she hasn’t gotten over it yet. Unfortunately, I was the one Tyson asked. If Tyson would have taken a different girl, she would be the one with punch all over her dress. We were right… Tyson took home the title of Homecoming King!”

  At school on Monday, it seemed as if nothing had happened. Kylie thought that she would at least hear whispers as she and Ally walked through the hallways because the video of Jenna spilling punch on Ally had basically gone viral. But no one said anything. Ally seemed perfectly fine. Jenna still thought she was better than everyone else. Tyson diligently trained to be a better athlete and prepared for football games. Teaching and learning continued as normal. But Kylie had no idea what was just around the corner.

  Chapter Five

  After that first week of school, Ally seemed to find herself spending less time with Kylie. They only had Calculus together every other day and the occasional FBLA meeting to see each other. The rest of the school day was spent in different classrooms with different lunch schedules. After school, they had study groups they needed to work with and other obligations. But Friday nights were always spent cheering on Tyson at the high school football games.

  Although Ally was spending less time with Kylie, she found herself spending more time with Tyson. They didn’t have any classes together, but they did have the same lunches. It started with lunch dates, then studying together and an occasional bite to eat after school.

  Every time Ally saw Kylie she was bursting at the seams to tell Kylie that she had been spending time with Tyson. Ally wasn’t ready to admit that they were dating. Well she was ready. She just didn’t want to get her hopes up that maybe, just maybe, she really was dating Tyson. Her real hesitation was Kylie’s reaction. Would she be excited or upset? The timing never seemed to work out to tell Kylie, so she just kept it to herself.

  Tyson hadn’t said anything about Ally and him o
fficially and exclusively dating. They had held hands but nothing more. No mention of them being boyfriend and girlfriend. She didn’t want to go around telling everyone that she was dating Tyson until she was sure that he really did want to date her. The only people that knew about her dating Tyson was her mom and dad. For now, she was going to keep it that way.

  On a warm Saturday afternoon in October, Ally found herself in her treehouse. Over the years, the treehouse had held many of her memories. It hadn’t gotten as much use after it was no longer cool to play house or pirates. But it remained one of Ally’s favorite places. Over the last couple of years, she had made the treehouse into a place where she could relax and read. With her homework done, Ally intended on reading a novel she had been wanting to read for a couple of months.

  Ally was startled when she heard a knock on the treehouse wall and Tyson peeked his head in the doorway.

  “Hey,” Tyson said with that smile that made Ally’s heart beat faster. “Your mom said you were up here. Do you mind if I come in?”

  “Sure,” Ally said as she set down her book and made room for Tyson to join her on the giant bean bag chair that her parents had given her for her birthday last year.

  “Wow. This place has sure changed,” Tyson said as he looked around at the walls now filled with posters instead of coloring pages.

  “I guess it has changed since the last time you were up here,” Ally said as Tyson sat down and instantly weaved his fingers between hers.

  “What brings you here to the treehouse today?” Ally asked.

  “Well I was just in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by.”

  Ally laughed. “You make it sound like I live all the way across town.”

  “It was a long drive,” Tyson said with all seriousness.

  “I’m sure it was. A whole two streets is a very long drive.”

  Tyson and Ally talked about last night’s football game and then the conversation drifted to their memories of playing in the treehouse as kids.

  “Ten years ago, I would have never guessed I would be sitting here with you,” Tyson said as he reached up and brushed a stray piece of Ally’s hair behind her ear. Ally’s heart started pounding as she looked into Tyson’s eyes.

  “Me either. 12-year-old Ally would totally be freaking out if she knew she would be holding hands with you right now.”

  “Why would she be freaking out?”

  “Because she had a cru… Um… No reason,” Ally’s voice tapered off as she looked down diverting her eyes from Tyson’s.

  “Why would 12-year-old Ally be freaking out?” Tyson teased as he lifted Ally’s chin so she was looking in his eyes again.

  “She might have had a tiny, massive crush on you,” Ally stammered as she swore Tyson’s face was closer than it was a second ago.

  “Well I know what could make 12-year-old Ally freak out even more,” Tyson grinned.

  “What’s that?” Ally whispered, frozen in her spot as Tyson continued to lean in closer.

  “If I kissed her.”

  Ally was shocked. Was Tyson seriously going to kiss her? Ally’s mind was running a hundred miles per hour but she couldn’t get herself to move.

  “Would she want to kiss me?” Tyson asked with a playful look in his eyes.

  Ally willed herself to nod her head. Ally closed her eyes as Tyson closed the gap and kissed her. Ally smiled as they pulled away from each other. She had dreamed of that kiss for years and it had finally happened. To make it even better, it was her first kiss. Maybe, just maybe, it would be her last first kiss too.

  “12-year-old Ally would definitely be freaking out,” Ally said. “Um, 12-year-old Ally hasn’t ever kissed anyone before, so can we try that again?”

  “Anytime,” Tyson grinned and by the time Tyson left they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

  Chapter Six

  Ally and Kylie sat studying at Kylie’s kitchen table. They both had tests the next day. Even though studying together could be more of a distraction than helpful, they hadn’t seen each other outside of school for almost a week. It gave them a reason to get together.

  Kylie was deep in thought studying Anatomy when she heard Ally stifle a giggle. Kylie looked up to see Ally smiling and typing on her phone. Ally set her phone down and started studying again. Shortly, Kylie saw Ally’s phone light up and Ally quickly picked up her phone. Kylie peeked up to see Ally with a grin on her face contemplating what to reply with.

  After Ally sent her phone back down, Kylie asked, “Who are you texting?”

  “Oh, no one,” Ally responded as she started reading her notes again.

  About five minutes later, Ally couldn’t hold it in when she read whatever text was on her phone. She broke out laughing.

  “Okay, seriously. Who are you talking to?” Kylie exclaimed. “Are you talking to a boy? Because only a guy would get Miss 4.0 so distracted while she was studying for a big test.”

  “Maybe,” Ally blushed a little as she quickly went back to studying.

  “So, are you going to tell me who he is?” Kylie asked as she went to reach for Ally’s phone. Soon they were sitting on the ground, out of breath, laughing over their battle for Ally’s phone. Ally still held her phone out of reach just in case.

  “What’s going on in here?” Tyson asked as he walked into the kitchen from the garage. “Do I even want to know how you guys ended up on the floor?

  “Ally is talking to a boy and she won’t tell me who it is,” Kylie said in mock frustration while Tyson helped them off the floor.

  Quicker than lightning speed, Tyson snatched Ally’s phone out of her hand.

  “Hey!” Ally exclaimed then gave Tyson a quizzical look.

  Tyson just winked at her then proceeded to browse through her texts. “Oooo… It looks like Ally has a date tonight,” he said in a teasing manner. “And he is picking you up at 7? Here?”

  Kylie looked over at the clock and exclaimed, “He’s coming here to pick you up? It’s 6:58. He will be here any minute. I guess he won’t be a secret much longer and I want to make sure that he is a good guy. He has to pass the best friend test.”

  Tyson passed Ally’s phone back to her as they had gathered around the island in the middle of the kitchen. “I want to meet this guy too. I agree with Kylie, we need to make sure that he isn’t sketchy,” Tyson said with all seriousness.

  “Will you please tell me what his name is? Does he go to our school?” Kylie started rambling off all the questions she wanted to know about Ally’s date. Ally glanced over at Tyson as if to ask him, “What should I say?” Tyson shrugged his shoulders.

  Kylie noticed and said, “What’s going on? Tyson do you know who it is? Tell me.” Tyson just smiled. Kylie grumbled, “This isn’t fair!”

  “You will know him when you see him,” Ally said.

  Tyson looked over at the clock. “Oh, it looks like it is 7.” He paused then turned to Ally, “Are you ready?”

  “Ya. I will just grab my stuff when we get back.”

  “Sounds good. See you later Kylie.”

  “Wait! Where are you going Tyson?” Kylie asked extremely confused.

  “On my date with Ally.”

  “What? You and Ally?” Kylie asked as she was catching on to what was happening. “How long have you guys been keeping this a secret?”

  “Bye,” Tyson called out as he grabbed Ally’s hand and pulled her out the front door.

  “You have some explaining to do when you two get back!” Kylie yelled in response.

  “My best friend and my brother dating?!” Kylie exclaimed inside. They had gone to Homecoming together. But she hadn’t heard anything about other dates since that night. She couldn’t decide if she was upset. Why did they keep this a secret from her? Were they keeping it secret from everyone? Why didn’t they just tell her?

  She could understand why Tyson didn’t tell her. They weren’t as close as they used to be and they definitely didn’t share their crushes or dating situations wi
th each other. But Ally. They were best friends and Ally was usually quick to gush over a cute boy she met. Or when a guy she liked smiled, made eye contact, or talked to her. They talked about everything. How did Kylie not notice this over the last couple of weeks? Usually, Kylie was quick to catch on to Ally’s new crushes based on how she acted around them.

  That was the problem. She hadn’t seen Ally and Tyson together since the Homecoming football game. Kylie and Ally had been very busy lately with different schedules. Kylie hadn’t seen Tyson at home much either. Tyson and Ally could have been going out on the evenings when Kylie was busy and she wouldn’t have known any different.

  Then came the flood of questions. How many dates had they been on? How serious were they? Were they casually dating or boyfriend and girlfriend? What if they break up? How would that affect her relationship with Ally? Would Ally ever come over to her house if they broke up? Would Ally even want to be her friend, knowing that there was a chance Tyson would be around?

  Kylie took a deep breath. She was seeing a lot more cons than pros of this relationship between her best friend and brother. This relationship would only be a good thing if they didn’t breakup… Which would mean Ally and Tyson would end up getting married. Married! It would be pretty cool if Ally ended up being her sister-in-law. But it was a long shot. Most high school relationships ended after graduation.

  She had a lot to worry about over the next hour while she waited for Tyson and Ally to get back. It was a good thing that they had a basketball hoop in the backyard. It didn’t help her study for her test, but it helped work out some energy. She had just walked back in when she suddenly felt nervous hearing laughter and the front door open. She hoped that they would be open with her and answer all her questions, so she could actually focus on her homework and maybe fall asleep tonight.