[If you asked Parker Rochford what she thought her senior year would look like, a year ago, she would have been able to tell you exactly: Parker Rochford was going to return from summer break as Miss America's Outstanding Teen. She would have been Cheer Captain, and George would have been the head of the student newspaper, and the yearbook editor. He'd make sure her squad was covered constantly, above the fold and on the front page, and that there were plenty of pictures of her looking good in the yearbook. She'd win Homecoming Queen, with George on her arm, and by the time prom rolled around, she'd have been so beloved by the entire school (and her foes so beaten down by George's relentless gossip in the paper) that she'd become Prom Queen. She and George would lead the Senior prank, and throw a wild rager to celebrate the end of the school year. Then they'd graduate, and after Annie Cleveland gave her little speech about being the smartest human being in the school, Parker Rochford would step to the podium, and deliver an earth shattering speech. From there, it was the usual storybook dream: college, engagement, wedding. Then there would be white picket fences, a cat and a show dog, two and a half kids. George would land some outrageously good job, and she'd star in Real Housewives of Lancaster.
Clearly, that hadn't gone as planned. Six months ago, if you asked her where she'd be in her senior year, she'd have prattled off something similar. But she'd always vowed, in the back of her head, that it would end in one way: with Henry Tudor dead at her feet.
That hadn't gone as planned either. Henry was still alive, but had disappeared from school. Parker Rochford came back from Christmas break with a girl on her arm, smiling something far more terrifying than her radiant prom queen smile-- instead, it was a kindof dopey, lovesick smile-- one she hadn't worn since George's death.
Parker knew this wasn't exactly Ruby's dream, and it wasn't exactly Parker's, either. But it charmed her that Ruby was willing to come to a normal, boring high school in Indiana, just because she knew it was important to Parker. And when she'd joined a sport just so Parker could cheer her on, Parker didn't have the heart to tell her the cheer team didn't actually cheer for that team. ...So, naturally, she just changed their seasons schedule, and anyone who objected was met with a steely stare and some petty high school blackmail.
It wasn't perfect. But it was pretty close to perfect, and Parker feels more like herself than she has in a long time. And as Ruby meets her by the bleachers, she smiles.]
Duh. I couldn't have missed it.
[Parker still has no idea if Ruby's flirting, or bragging, or just trying to have a conversation, but it doesn't matter. She leans in and pecks Ruby on the cheek.]
It was pretty awesome. And it's pretty awesome that nobody got hurt this time.
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Clearly, that hadn't gone as planned. Six months ago, if you asked her where she'd be in her senior year, she'd have prattled off something similar. But she'd always vowed, in the back of her head, that it would end in one way: with Henry Tudor dead at her feet.
That hadn't gone as planned either. Henry was still alive, but had disappeared from school. Parker Rochford came back from Christmas break with a girl on her arm, smiling something far more terrifying than her radiant prom queen smile-- instead, it was a kindof dopey, lovesick smile-- one she hadn't worn since George's death.
Parker knew this wasn't exactly Ruby's dream, and it wasn't exactly Parker's, either. But it charmed her that Ruby was willing to come to a normal, boring high school in Indiana, just because she knew it was important to Parker. And when she'd joined a sport just so Parker could cheer her on, Parker didn't have the heart to tell her the cheer team didn't actually cheer for that team. ...So, naturally, she just changed their seasons schedule, and anyone who objected was met with a steely stare and some petty high school blackmail.
It wasn't perfect. But it was pretty close to perfect, and Parker feels more like herself than she has in a long time. And as Ruby meets her by the bleachers, she smiles.]
Duh. I couldn't have missed it.
[Parker still has no idea if Ruby's flirting, or bragging, or just trying to have a conversation, but it doesn't matter. She leans in and pecks Ruby on the cheek.]
It was pretty awesome. And it's pretty awesome that nobody got hurt this time.