TERI
BRRRRRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNGGGGG!!!
Agh! Stupid alarm clock! I moaned and buried my head into my pillow, trying but failing to ignore the constant ringing that was drilling itself inside my head.
I knew setting the alarm clock was a bad idea... Maybe i should call in sick today.
But Penny was expecting my story on the game last night!
I groaned, the thought of getting up from my nice warm bed and going to school was not a happy thought.
Luckily for me, I came up with an idea. Really, I could've kicked myself for not thinking of it earlier. But in my defense, I was half asleep at the time!
I was gonna send her an email. Simple as that.
So, with a little difficulty, I managed to get out of bed. "I'll be back for you," I whispered to it, and headed for my computer.
It tool awhile for it to boot up. I needed a new computer. If I fall behind on my school work this ancient dinosaur will take all the blame.
Finally, the apple sign appeared on the screen, and the familiar dings and dongs started playing.
I flipped open my trusty notebook and found Penny's email address.
I was about to compose an email when another ding sounded. It wasn't unfamiliar, but it was definitely unexpected.
My IM had signed in automatically, and a message had popped up on my screen:
"Hey Teri. Sorry again for getting you home so late. I hope your dad didn't give you too rough a time. I was wondering whether you might want to come over to my place tomorrow after school? Just as friends of course. Maybe we could watch Star Wars? You could bring Dave if you like."
I didn't feel like staying in bed anymore. The name at the top of the message made my heart skip.
Yeah... It was from Austin.
Rapidly typing: "yes I'd love to go!" and pressed the return key, I groaned in frustration when my IM account malfunctioned.
Well... There was always Facebook.
I started up my search engine and found Austin's Facebook page. Soon I posted the message again on his wall and logged off quickly.
There was no time to lose! I grabbed a towel from my closet and headed for the showers.
No way was I going to Austin's house smelling like wet dog!
AUSTIN
"Austin!" that stupid annoying voice called. Austin pulled the blanket over his head, maybe Stephanie would be dumb enough to not know he was there?
That's when his annoying alarm clock began to ring. He was so tempted to throw it against the wall, but if he did, his dad would flip out. Again.
Shaking his head Austin sat up. He had a hot shower then had an unnatural need to check his facebook. Once he did however, he was unbelievably grateful. He found Teri's reply and his mood immediately shifted from lazy to jazzed up.
He couldn't help the huge smile that crept up his face. "I'm having a friend over from school today!" he shouted at his step mum as he walked out the door. Yup, he didn’t even mind the walk to school!
TERI
Teri pulled on one of her few denim skirts, a delicate blouse and took extra effort with her hair. So obviously she was late. She tore down the stairs and ran up to her dad. He gave her a once over and raised his eyebrows. "Its a long story and im going to be late. Could you please drive me to school?" she begged.
Her father nodded smiling slightly at how desperate his daughter was to get to school. It didnt fool him for a second, but he decided to play along. "Any reason you're all dressed up?" he asked once they were halfway to school.
He looked at his daughter and saw her blush. He knew it had something to do with the boy. Wasnt Teri much too young to even be into boys?
"Dad? Austin asked if I could hang out at his place after school?" she asked hesitatingly.
Everything in his mind screamed 'No!' at once! But trying to be the mature, logical adult he decided to probe his daughter for information first.
"Will the two of you be alone?" he asked in full dad mode. Teri shook her head. She was pretty sure they wouldn't be alone, but she pretended she was positive.
"Fine. You can go. But take your cell. And if you need me for anything, call me okay? And dont do anything you'll regret. And remember what i told you about teenage guys!" he begged. He just couldn't say no to his little angel. Yes, he knew he was a weak man!
But still! He just said he allowed his thirteen year old daughter to hang out at a sixteen year old guy's house. Albeit there would be some other people around...not to mention the fact that his daughter happened to like the boy in questions. All he could do was pray and hope the boy didn't like his daughter back in the same way. Otherwise, he might have to buy a couple of firearms.
Teri quickly agreed and nearly ran out of the car. The moment she stepped into school, she bumped into Dave. "Dave! You will never guess the IM I woke up to this morning!" Teri thrilled, barely able to stop herself from jumping.
Teri jumped excitedly on the spot, much to Dave's amusement. She couldn't help it, she was too happy.
"Alright, quit jumping and tell me what's up," Dave said, grabbing Teri by her shoulders to hold her still.
He looked a bit tired, but his smile covered it up. Well... Teri was tired too but the excitement she had from the morning's IM had her charged up.
"Austin asked me to go to his house today!" Teri told him, barely covering up her glee.
It must've been her imagination, but Teri could have sworn that Dave's shoulders drooped a little.
Maybe it was her imagination, for Dave grinned and said, "That's awesome Ter!"
Teri felt her cheeks getting sore, and realized that she had been smiling an awful lot since morning. But she didn't mind.
She was going to hang out with Austin after school!
"Your dad is so cool for allowing you to go to an older boy's house on your own," Dave said casually, his hands tucked into his pockets.
Teri felt her mood drop slightly. Of course her dad hadn't allowed her to go on her own. He didn't want her having a boyfriend either.
"I may have told him I wasn't going alone," Teri said guiltily.
"You lied to your dad?" Dave said, making her feel worse.
"Austin said you could come along too!" Teri blurted out, remembering the message.
Dave looked taken aback.
"He did?" Dave said, "that's weird..."
"Why?" Teri asked, looking confused. Her eyebrows knit together in a cute kind of way.
"He called me late last night asking for your number," Dave explained, "if he wanted to invite me, why didn't he just say so then?"
Teri looked at him, puzzling it out in her mind. It was kind of odd. But maybe Austin was just tired and completely forgot to ask Dave if he wanted to go.
She was about to voice this when the bell rang, signaling the beginning of classes.
Dave checked his watch.
"Damn, I was supposed to meet Ms Phillips about my science project before classes." he said heading away from Teri.
"I'll see you around Ter," he called back to her, "I'll call my mom later to ask if I can go to Austin's with you!"
She waved bye to him as he disappeared around the corner, and headed towards her own class.
Had she turned around, she would have noticed Britney standing hidden behind an open locker door, glaring daggers at her.
AUSTIN
Britney just couldn't understand it! What in the world did Austin see in that little twerp?! She wasn't even pretty, she had no shape. All she had was...was...she had nothing!
Tossing her carefully dyed blonde hair behind her, Britney headed off to her Physics class, which she coincidentally shared with Austin. She sauntered sexily up to him and hopped on the lab table in front of him.
"Hey Brit!" Austin called casually, his bright smile making his eyes crinkle, making him that much hotter.
"So, I wanted to thank you for sending me home last night," she murmured in her sexiest, huskiest voice.
Austin eyebrows pulled up slightly but he grinned all the same. "No prob, Brit. I was sending Bruce home anyway," he murmured, still smiling.
"Okay, so I was wondering if you'd let me take you out to the theatres after school today? As a sort of thank you?" she whispered/
"Oh...that's really sweet, Brit, but I sort of have plans for today," Austin hedged.
"Really? Can't you cancel?"
"I can't..." he shrugged his shoulders a little.
"Please, Austin?" she begged. Now, if there was one thing Britney knew it was that decent guys never liked to see a girl beg. And decent guys were always the easiest guys to manipulate.
"Umm...okay, you see, I invited a friend over to my place for a Star Wars movie thing. So I can't really cancel," he murmured, actually looking a little guilty.
"Oh...it's okay. I just cancelled a date I had for this afternoon...but it's okay," Britney murmured, hoping off the table.
She made her way to the back of the class and sulked a little. She knew Austin was watching. And just like clockwork, the moment the bell rang for recess, Austin jogged over to her.
"Brit, I'm really sorry you cancelled your date. You could come to my place, if you like?" he suggested a little hesitantly.
"I'd love to!" Britney grinned, pecking Austin on the check. She then tottered out of the classroom on her extremely high heels, showcasing her assets to Austin.
Austin groaned to himself. Geez...now it'd be him, Britney and Teri alone in his house...great. How much more screwed up could it get?!
His mood utterly crushed he walked dejectedly to the canteen, not bothering to eat.
***
(End of school)
Austin waited for Teri and Britney at the main gate. Teri bounced over, excitement written all over her face.
"Hey Teri," Austin smiled, he just couldn't help but be happy when she was around.
"Hey Austin! Dave will be here in a few minutes," Teri thrilled.
Austin tried to hide his disappointment. He didn't actually expect her to have invited that bozo!
"Oh, yeah, no problem. We have to wait for Britney anyway," he murmured.
Teri's eyes widened in horror. "Britney's coming?"
"Yeah...long story. I'm sorry," he whispered immediately making her feel better, He didn't seem even a bit happy Britney would be coming.
Minutes later Britney and Dave arrived.
"So, my car pretty much died yesterday. So we're gonna have to walk," Austin admitted sheepishly.
"I'm fine with that!" Teri thrilled. Even Britney being around couldn't crush her spirits.
Britney complained of course, but Austin shot her an apologetic smile and she was won over. So the four of them started the short walk to Austin's home.
The moment the huge white mansion came into view, he could hear both Teri and Britney gasp in shock and Dave sigh in frustration.
"Welcome to Casa Niall," Austin mumbled, embarrassed already.