Scouts Honor

Chapter 14

Things stayed the same as usual between Bolton and I after that night. We were...just friends. I was starting to wonder if that's all we could ever be. 

Jesse had given me space, but things were starting to pick back up again. I only had one week left to convince him to move on before Shelly showed him the video. She glared daggers into my back on a daily basis and left me kind little reminders of my mission.

I was standing outside after school when she approached me. "Why hasn't Jesse asked me out yet?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm really not in the mood, Shelly. I've tried to convince him it's over. A part of him realizes it is."

"Yeah, well, it's the part that hasn't realized it yet that I'm worried about. The clock is ticking, Baylee. Get him to move on before Mel's party Saturday night. If you don't, I'll just have to take matters into my own hands."

Melissa's parties were always fun. She threw a ton of them because her parents were out of town almost every weekend. I hadn't been planning on going to this one, but it was starting to look like I'd have to. "Even if I do get him to leave me alone, what makes you so sure that you'll be the one he asks out?"

She laughed like I'd said something funny, tossed her hair over her shoulder, and said, "Have you not seen me? The real question here is: Why is he pining after you when he could have the luck of getting me?" I was about to respond when she looked over my shoulder and smiled evilly. "As much as I hate to cut this convo short, I should probably go. Wouldn't want you to keep your boyfriend waiting." She winked and walked away laughing.

I knew he was behind me before I even turned around. "Ready to go Bolton?" I started walking before he'd even answered. I didn't want to risk standing there any longer.

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The drive home was silent. Bolton hadn't even turned the radio on, which was unusual. Once we were finally in his driveway, he turned to me and said, "What's bothering you?"

"What're you talking about? I'm fine." We both knew that that was a lie. I didn't want him to worry about the video getting out, but I decided telling him the truth was easier than trying to sell him another lie. "Shelly said that she's going to show Jesse the video if he doesn't ask her out at Melissa's party Saturday." He sat there like he was waiting for me to go on. "That's it."

"Seriously? That's the only thing bothering you?"

"Well, yeah. Aren't you worried about how Jesse would feel if he saw that? It could ruin your friendship."

"Baylee, this is Shelly we're talking about. She probably doesn't even know how to use a video camera."

That made me laugh, but only for a second. "And if she does?"

He looked down. "If she does show him, I'll deal with it then. He'll probably be mad at first, but he'll get over it. Besides, he can't really get too angry. It's not like she has a video of us making out. We were just dancing. Don't stress yourself out over this. It'll be fine."

He made sense. It's not like we did anything wrong. We were just two friends dancing together. It was completely innocent. There was nothing to worry about. Or was there...

I stopped that thought before it could develop any further. "You're right. It'll all be fine." That earned me a smile, and he grabbed the door handle. He started to get out, but stopped short and turned back around.

"I almost forgot. I kinda wanted to ask you something." I nodded, and he took that as a cue to go on. "There's this thing Friday night for the Boy Scouts. Me and a few other people are being moved up to the rank of Eagle Scout. It's not that big of a deal, just the ceremony, then dinner and dancing. I was, uh... I was wondering if maybe you'd like to be my date." He realized what he'd said, then rephrased it. "I mean, you know, I just thought we could maybe go as friends, since I'm not seeing anyone and you're not seeing anyone..." He trailed off and looked down nervously, his cheeks lightly turning pink. "It's okay if you don't want to. I would totally understand."

I laughed slightly after listening to all of his rambling. "No, it's fine. I'd love to go with you. Tell me the time and place, and I'll be there." His smile then...there are really no words to describe what it made me feel.

"Great. I'll pick you up around six thirty."

"I'll be ready."

He shut the car door and leaned back in the window. "So, it's a date?" I knew he was just using the expression, but that's what I was hoping that evening would turn into. I smiled back at him.

"It's a date."