How to Stay Afloat

~17: Where She Gets a Reality Check~

I looked up to see Colton Miller making himself comfortable on the seat across from me.

Peyton scrunched her eyebrows at me and gave me a look that said "What is he doing here?"

I answered with a small shrug that translated to, "Beats me."

"So, how much did we end up making at the auction," Colton asked as he casually took a bite from his apple like we had lunch together every day.

Peyton's expression brightened at the mention of the auction. "We ended up making close to seven grand!" She said excitedly, "So it looks like we can get the school's pool fixed and the volleyball team can finally get new kits! Plus we'll have a substantial amount left over so we can give it to the cheerleaders for helping us out!"

"That's amazing!" I exclaimed proudly. My shoulders suddenly slouched. "I'm sorry things turned into such a mess in the end because of me."

"That wasn't your fault." Peyton jumped in immediately.

"Yeah, Michelson is a complete asshole" Colton added, anger flashed in his grey eyes but it quickly vanished and he shrugged, "Besides we ended up making like Eight hundred bucks on your bid so it's not like it was a complete loss."

My eyes bulged out of their sockets. "Eight hundred, who-"

"Hey." Archer's gravelly voice suddenly cut in. He sat down on the empty chair beside me. His leg pressed against mine and I felt my heart flutter at the contact.

He took a french fry from my plate and popped it into his mouth. "What are you guys talking about?" he asked casually.

Colton raised an eyebrow at him pointedly, "I was just telling Fallon about how you paid eight hundred dollars at the auction for her."

Archer's eyes suddenly focused on me. "Yeah, what about it?" He asked, looking at me seriously.

I inhaled sharply. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. "I mean, y-you didn't have to. I know you only bid on me so Chase didn't win the date and after the fight no one really expected you to... I know it wasn't what you wanted." I sputtered.

His gaze turned intense, "Trust me, it was exactly what I wanted." I could see his eyes darken. He leaned closer.

My heart thudded wildly in my chest.

"How is your dad cool with you spending that much on a high-school auction?" Colton suddenly asked pulling our attention away from each other.

I could see Archer's shoulders stiffen slightly at the mention of his father. "That's because it wasn't his money. I paid from the money I'd saved up from fixing all those cars."

I swallowed suddenly feeling guilty.

He'd been saving that money for himself.

His arm suddenly came to rest on the back of my chair. His knuckles lightly brushed the side of my neck.  I tilted my head slightly and noticed the veins running along his hands and up his arms. I had this insane urge to explore each and every one of those veins with my tongue. 

He'd pulled up the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows and I could see the outline of his taut biceps even beneath the cloth.  I could feel the heat settling in the pit of my stomach.

"Hey guys!" Caroline Williams suddenly stopped in front of our table. "So I heard the auction was a success!" She said excitedly.

I gave her a sincere smile, "Thanks to you and the other members of the cheer squad. Most of the crowd only showed up because of you guys."

She laughed. "I'm just happy we could be of help." Her attention suddenly turned to Archer and she gave him a playful wink. "I'm really looking forward to our date."

Colton gestured between the two of them and whistled.

I could feel Archer go completely still beside me.

"See you guys around." Caroline wiggled her fingers at us before walking away.

I hated the painful ache that seemed to settle in my chest when she said that. I hated how I had to curl my hands into fists to keep them from trembling.

"By the way." Archer's gruff voice murmured in my ear suddenly pulling me out of whatever trance I was currently in. "The parts I ordered for your car have finally arrived. If you're free today after school you can come over to my place and we'll start working on your convertible."

I gave him a jerky nod. The reality of our situation suddenly came crashing down.

I scooted my chair away from him a little causing him to retract his arm. His lips briefly turned down when I did that but Colton suddenly grabbed his attention by asking him something about their upcoming match.

Me getting my car fixed. Him dating Caroline Williams.

Our agreement.

It's what we both wanted.

That's what all of this was about.

Nothing else.